450 Patients Might Have Been Exposed to HIV and Hepatitis at Mass. Hospital

Salem Hospital in Massachuests has said that over 450 patients could be exposed to HIV and hepatitis.Photo:GettySalem Hospital in Massachusetts has said that over 450 patients could be exposed to HIV and hepatitis, according to local Boston news outlet,WCVB NewsCenter 5.Per the station, a spokesperson revealed that the patients were potentially exposed after intravenous medication was administered in a way that was inconsistent with the hospital’s methods.“The infections we are testing for are Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV, which are standard tests for a potential exposure of this kind,” a spokesperson from Salem Hospital’s owner, Mass General Brigham, said in a statement to PEOPLE. “A small portion of our endoscopy patients, nearly 450 patients, were potentially impacted over a period of roughly two years.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.There are currently no reported infections.GettyHowever, they added that the chances of infection were “extremely small” and that there were currently no reported infections.“If patients have not been notified, they don’t need to be concerned,” the statement read. “All those potentially impacted have been notified.“According toBoston 25 News, a spokesperson from Salem Hospital’s owner, Mass General Brigham also added that “once identified, the practice was immediately corrected and the hospital’s quality and infection control teams were notified.““The safety of our patients is our highest priority, and we have undertaken multiple corrective actions in response to this event,” the spokesperson said, per WCVB NewsCenter 5.A free clinician staff hotline to answer questions and provide free screenings has also reportedly been set up.Boston 25 News also added that the hospital apologized “to those who have been impacted,” and aims to continue to deliver “high-quality, compassionate health care to our community.”

Salem Hospital in Massachuests has said that over 450 patients could be exposed to HIV and hepatitis.Photo:Getty

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Salem Hospital in Massachusetts has said that over 450 patients could be exposed to HIV and hepatitis, according to local Boston news outlet,WCVB NewsCenter 5.Per the station, a spokesperson revealed that the patients were potentially exposed after intravenous medication was administered in a way that was inconsistent with the hospital’s methods.“The infections we are testing for are Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV, which are standard tests for a potential exposure of this kind,” a spokesperson from Salem Hospital’s owner, Mass General Brigham, said in a statement to PEOPLE. “A small portion of our endoscopy patients, nearly 450 patients, were potentially impacted over a period of roughly two years.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.There are currently no reported infections.GettyHowever, they added that the chances of infection were “extremely small” and that there were currently no reported infections.“If patients have not been notified, they don’t need to be concerned,” the statement read. “All those potentially impacted have been notified.“According toBoston 25 News, a spokesperson from Salem Hospital’s owner, Mass General Brigham also added that “once identified, the practice was immediately corrected and the hospital’s quality and infection control teams were notified.““The safety of our patients is our highest priority, and we have undertaken multiple corrective actions in response to this event,” the spokesperson said, per WCVB NewsCenter 5.A free clinician staff hotline to answer questions and provide free screenings has also reportedly been set up.Boston 25 News also added that the hospital apologized “to those who have been impacted,” and aims to continue to deliver “high-quality, compassionate health care to our community.”

Salem Hospital in Massachusetts has said that over 450 patients could be exposed to HIV and hepatitis, according to local Boston news outlet,WCVB NewsCenter 5.

Per the station, a spokesperson revealed that the patients were potentially exposed after intravenous medication was administered in a way that was inconsistent with the hospital’s methods.

“The infections we are testing for are Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV, which are standard tests for a potential exposure of this kind,” a spokesperson from Salem Hospital’s owner, Mass General Brigham, said in a statement to PEOPLE. “A small portion of our endoscopy patients, nearly 450 patients, were potentially impacted over a period of roughly two years.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

There are currently no reported infections.Getty

However, they added that the chances of infection were “extremely small” and that there were currently no reported infections.

“If patients have not been notified, they don’t need to be concerned,” the statement read. “All those potentially impacted have been notified.”

According toBoston 25 News, a spokesperson from Salem Hospital’s owner, Mass General Brigham also added that “once identified, the practice was immediately corrected and the hospital’s quality and infection control teams were notified.”

“The safety of our patients is our highest priority, and we have undertaken multiple corrective actions in response to this event,” the spokesperson said, per WCVB NewsCenter 5.

A free clinician staff hotline to answer questions and provide free screenings has also reportedly been set up.

Boston 25 News also added that the hospital apologized “to those who have been impacted,” and aims to continue to deliver “high-quality, compassionate health care to our community.”

source: people.com