Even those who do not work in the medical profession know that under no circumstances should you use an instrument that penetrates the skin on more than one person without that sharp instrument being sterilized and washed each time. Apparently, a New York hospital did not.
South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside on Long Island, near New York City, said patients may have received insulin from a pen reservoir — not a single-use disposable needle — that could have been used on more than one patient.“The risk of infection from this is extremely low,” the hospital said in a statement, adding it was recommending patients “be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.” When asked if anyone was confirmed to have been infected a hospital spokeswoman said, “not to my knowledge.”
The pen-shaped insulin injector devices are often used by hospitals to give the medication to patients and contain a reservoir or cartridge, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. The pens should be limited to one patient because regurgitation of blood into the insulin cartridge can occur after injection, creating a risk of blood-borne pathogen transmission, even when the needle is changed, according to the CDC.
Some 200 of the more than 4,000 patients who were warned have signed up for free blood testing, WABC-TV reported.
The hospital seems to have changed its policy on the devices, though it was unclear when the change occurred. “South Nassau has already implemented a hospital-wide policy that bans the use of insulin pens and permits only the use of single-patient-use vials to administer prescribed insulin treatments to patients,” the statement said.
According to the CDC, HIV can lead to AIDS, or the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and hepatitis refers to a group of viral infections that affect the liver.
The hospital is now offering free blood testing services. It will take the patients a few weeks to receive their results. If you know anyone who has been exposed please make sure they get to a medical facility immediately.
