Health Officials Expand Testing of Patients Related to the Exeter Hospital Hepatitis C Investigation

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) is expanding testing recommendations related to the hepatitis C outbreak at Exeter Hospital. DPHS is now asking that anyone who was a patient in the Hospitals Operating Rooms (excluding outpatient surgery center) and the Intensive Care Unit between April 1, 2011 and May 25, 2012 be tested for possible exposure to hepatitis C. A former Exeter Hospital employee has been arrested and charged in connection with the outbreak.

 
As part of our investigation we have uncovered additional information that has indicated the suspect, while working in the hospitals cardiac catheritization Lab, may also have accessed these other areas of the hospital, says public health director Dr. José Montero. As we have said this investigation is ongoing and additional testing may be necessary to help all patients who may have been infected. While the risk of exposure to this newly identified group of patients is very low, we want to be take every measure to protect the public and so we are recommending that they come in to be tested.

This recommendation represents approximately 6,000 people who should be tested. In order to ensure efficiency, DPHS will be coordinating clinics for testing with regional partners. The clinic will be located at Exeter High School and will be open this weekend between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, and Monday and Tuesday between noon and 8 p.m.

DPHS will offer a test that can be done at the clinic site, and patients will receive results before leaving the clinic. Understanding patient concerns, we are offering this test to shorten the time that patients will have to wait for results. Alternatively, patients can choose to have their blood drawn by their healthcare provider.

DPHS will be hosting a public meeting at 6 p.m. in the town of Exeter on July 27 at Exeter High School. The purpose of the meeting is to be available for community members, to discuss the latest developments and to answer questions the public may have. Details of the clinics are being finalized, and all information will be available by Thursday nights meeting.

We realize this is a very busy time of year, says Montero, so we wanted to give people as much advance notice as possible. We felt it was important to reach out to patients with this announcement even before all the details have been worked out.

 
For questions and information about hepatitis C visit www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/hepatitisc/index.htm or www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/index.htm or call DPHS Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496. Any inquiries about the criminal investigation should be addressed to the NH Attorney Generals Office at 603-271-3658.

Exeter Hospital has issued an update on its website: "Late Tuesday, July 24, Exeter Hospital provided the NH Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), in support of the states patient outreach process, the initial list of those individuals identified as having been treated in the main operating room (excluding outpatient surgery center) and the intensive care unit of Exeter Hospital during the specified timeframe of April 1, 2011 to May 25, 2012. The rough list sent to the state included approximately 4,800 names. Based on our review, once duplicates and patients who have already been tested are removed, the total number of patients that fit the states recommendation for testing will decrease to approximately 3,400. Unlike previous testing that was managed by Exeter Hospital, the testing starting this weekend will be conducted by the DPHS. We are joining the state in encouraging patients who had a procedure in our main operating room, or who were patients of our intensive care unit between April 1, 2011 and May 25, 2012 to be tested at the DPHS clinics this weekend. For information about the states testing clinics, patients should contact the DPHS at 603-271-4496. Exeter Hospital will continue to share information about this outbreak and associated testing as it becomes available."