A Florida hospital is being forced to test nearly 2,000 patients for blood-borne pathogens after being treated by a nurse who admitted re-using IV bags and tubing.
The hospital, Broward General Medical Center, said that an estimated 1,851 patients who underwent chemical stress tests for their hearts were treated by the nurse. So far, the hospital has tested 254 patients, and some of those have tested positive for infectious diseases, though it's not clear whether the patients might have been infected prior to the re-use of supplies by the nurse.
The nurse, Qui Lan, is now facing a criminal investigation.
To learn more about the issue:
- read this UPI.com piece [1]
Related Articles:
Beth Israel safety lapses raise concern among state regulators [2]
Massachusetts hospital-acquired infections cost millions [3]
Hospitals using IT surveillance to track infections [4]
Links:
[1] http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/10/14/Nurse-re-uses-IV-supplies/UPI-70161255538357/
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/beth-israel-safety-lapses-raise-concern-among-state-regulators/2009-04-13
[3] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/ma-hospital-acquired-infections-cost-millions/2007-08-09
[4] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/study-hospitals-using-it-surveillance-track-infections/2007-10-22