Hepatitis C Infections Found in Clinic Patients
source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/health/06clinic.html
-
-
- sofaslug
- added this
At least nine kidney patients were infected with hepatitis C while being treated at a Manhattan dialysis center that was closed by state health officials last year, according to the results of an investigation published Thursday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The viruses found in four of the infected patients were close genetic matches to viruses in other clinic patients, the investigators said, indicating that the four were almost certainly infected by contaminated equipment at the clinic, the Life Care Dialysis Center at 221 West 61st Street. The center was ordered closed after investigators found unsanitary operating conditions.
According to the C.D.C. report, which appeared in the centers’ Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, still other patients may also have been infected at the clinic. But the investigation was confined to the 162 who were being treated as of July 2008.
Earlier statements from state health officials had confirmed one viral infection among clinic patients. Hepatitis C often has no easily observable symptoms but can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer.
The viruses found in four of the infected patients were close genetic matches to viruses in other clinic patients, the investigators said, indicating that the four were almost certainly infected by contaminated equipment at the clinic, the Life Care Dialysis Center at 221 West 61st Street. The center was ordered closed after investigators found unsanitary operating conditions.
According to the C.D.C. report, which appeared in the centers’ Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, still other patients may also have been infected at the clinic. But the investigation was confined to the 162 who were being treated as of July 2008.
Earlier statements from state health officials had confirmed one viral infection among clinic patients. Hepatitis C often has no easily observable symptoms but can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer.
-
- groups:
- Health
-
- tags:
- Health, Infectious Disease, Hep C
