Warning issued to biopsy recipients (Togus Vets Hospital)

[Maine-ah]

AUGUSTA -- Officials are warning some veterans who received biopsies at the Togus veterans hospital that they may have a small chance of contracting HIV or hepatitis B or C.

Jack Sims, medical director of the Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center at Togus, said the stainless-steel guide to a biopsy needle may have been inadequately disinfected during a three-year period from January 2003 to last January.

Letters will be sent to 500 men who received prostate biopsies from 2003 through 2005 notifying them of the danger.

Sims said accidental infections are highly unlikely, since the veterans did not suffer from higher-than-expected rates of bacterial infection and bacteria are more hardy than AIDS or hepatitis viruses.

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/2639816.shtml

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Yikes!

[Maine-ah]

2. that's putting it mildly..

shit, what these guy/gals have gone thru in the first place, only to be wondering now if they've got HIV or something.

[Maine-ah]

3. wow, talk about dropping like a rock

I'm gonna give this one more try here.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Kickin' for ya