Second NY hospital warns nearly 2,000 patients of possible HIV infection from insulin pens

A hospital in New York State has notified 1,915 patients that they may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C – days after another hospital in NY admitted making the same mistake - through reusing insulin pens, used by diabetics.

Olean General Hospital is mailing 1,915 patients who received insulin between November 2009 and last week and advising them to have a blood test, although the risk of infection of HIV or hepatitis B and C is very low, a hospital official told AP.

Staff at Olean General said they ordered the action after a review carried out at a nearby veteran’s hospital in Buffalo found that more than 700 patients may have been exposed to the same trio of deadly diseases over a two year period when they also may have used multiuse insulin pens on more than one person, though only intended for use on a single patient.

Olean General had not identified any specific patients who had been infected, but were not taking any chances.

more here: http://rt.com/usa/news/hiv-infection-insulin-pens-793/