HIV-Positive Nurse Puts Patients At Risk

Article

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - A nurse at South Texas Regional Medical Center has caused a wave of panic.

Officials say HIV-positive nurse Jacqueline Fillingim injected herself with Demerol she stole from the facility. She then allegedly refilled the drug vials with saline. She reportedly used the same needle to inject herself and refill the vials, leaving the possibility of infection for whoever received the intended Demerol.

Officials at the hospital are working to revoke Fillingim's nursing license, while also rushing to contact an estimated 1,100 patients who may have received Demerol when the nurse is suspected of injecting herself. They report the contamination risk is slight, but they are asking patients to receive a blood test to be sure.

The nurse worked for the facility in south San Antonio from June 2001 to January. The state has reportedly been sent to the state Department of Public Safety and to federal agencies for review.

No charges have been filed to date.

Information from www.abcnews.com

Recent Videos
A veterinarian in a protective suit takes tests on animals on a farm.   (Adobe Stock 829620654 by Яна Ерік Татевосян)
Neatly Stacked Hospital Linen, Clean Fabric in Turquoise, White, and Blue Hues. Created by AI.  (Adobe Stock 1103251410 by HQAsset)
Chicago’s Dental Society Midwinter Meeting  (Adobe Stock 7622055 by abricotine)
Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, MD, senior fellow of the George W. Bush Presidential Center
Cameron Memorial Community Hospital series with ICT (Image Credit: CMCH)
Veterinary Infection Prevention
Meet the Infection Control Today Editorial Advisory Board Members: Priya Pandya-Orozco, DNP, MSN, RN, PHN, CIC.
Meet Matthew Pullen, MD.
Henry Spratt, Infection Control Today's Editorial Advisory Board member
Related Content