Hospital contact 400 more peeps

kriner@sunmulti.com

Houston Healthcare has notified an additional 400 patients

that were treated during the time period a contract employee that worked for

the hospital is accused of spreading Hepatitis C to patients.

David Kwiatkowski, who worked in Houston Medical Centers

catherization lab, is accused of infecting more than 30 people with hepitis C

mainly in New Hampshire but possibly across the country.

The investigation of Kwiatkowski began in the summer, when

less than 100 Houston Medical Center patients were contacted about possible

infection.

A press release from Houston Medical Center states that no

local hepatitis C cases match the strain under investigation.

“As a result of their findings in other states, public

health recommended we expand our testing to include patients who received

injectable narcotics and received care in an area where David worked,” CEO of

Houston Medical Center Carey Martin said.

Kwiatkowski has been called a “serial infector” by U.S. Attorney

John Kacavas. Kwiatkowski has worked in at least six states including Maryland

and Michigan. Officials have not released the other states where he’s worked.

According to an Associated Press story, Kwiatkowski is accused of stealing

anesthetic drugs from the lab, injecting himself and contaminating syringes

that were later used on patients.

Officials said that 30 patients who were at Exeter Hospital during

Kwiatkowski’s employment have been diagnosed with the same strain of hepatitis

C that he carries.

According an earlier statement Martin said, Kwiatkowski did not have access to

the medication system at Houston Medical Center.

The Associated Press report noted that it is unclear how long Kwiatkowski has

had hepatitis C. He told investigator that he was diagnosed in May but

authorities said there is evidence that he has had the disease at least since

June 2010.

According to court documents, Kwiatkowski told investigators he did not steal

drugs, is “not a shooter,” and is scared of needles. He also said he was

allergic to fentanyl, the powerful anesthetic he’s accused of stealing, though

medical records indicate he was given the drug during a medical procedure in

2011.

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