VA: 5th HIV case linked to unsterile equipment

[babylonsister]

VA: 5th HIV case linked to unsterile equipment

LISA ORKIN EMMANUEL | May 1, 2009 07:12 PM EST | AP


MIAMI — A fifth patient has tested positive for HIV, and seven more tested positive for hepatitis after being exposed to contaminated medical equipment at three Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, the agency said Friday.

That brings the total who have tested positive for hepatitis to 33.

They are among thousands tested because they were treated with endoscopic equipment that wasn't properly sterilized between patients and exposed them to the body fluids of others. The equipment is often used in colonoscopies and ear, nose and throat procedures.

Nearly 11,000 former sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines could have been exposed at the hospitals in Miami, Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Augusta, Ga. The agency said 6,687 patients have been notified of their test results so far.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090501/us-veterans-colonoscopies/

[Deja Q]

1. Did they hire a bunch of republicans to run the joint?!?!?!!!!!

:cry:

Horrible and inexcusable, this. Aren't these things like cleaned AFTER the procedure and then cleaned again before the next one?

Meanwhile, CPAP machine users have to pay for new masks every 6 months. They say the nosepiece wears out, but they include the whole hose and headgear. Bloody waste of gear and insurance companies love it.

Don't people give a shit anymore????? (unless it's about being as sleazy as possible in the money-making department...)

[Thothmes]

2. The Veterans Administration Hospitals

have a very long track record of screw ups. It is not limited to the last 8 years by any stretch of imagination. In the mid sixties, vets in the VA hospital at Vancouver WA. use to occupy their spare time in the wards, shooting coack roaches off the wall with rubber bands. In 1978, the VA hospital that operated on an aquaintance amputated the wrong leg.

[Deja Q]

3. Shucks. A shame; I was hoping for a DUzy, but it really is _bad_ that all this goes back so far.

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

[Thothmes]

4. Unfortunately, once the shooting is over in a war

those that have suffered from their service to our country, seem to drop off the radar. Even more unforturnate, it does not seem to matter much ce which administration is in power at the time. It is a shame.