Friday, August 10, 2012

State health officials say two people have tested positive for Hepatitis C after a former employee was accused infecting patients with the virus.

David Kwiatkoski is accused of injecting himself with syringes, then refilling and replacing them. Kwiatkowski has Hepatitis C and passed it on to hospital patients who were injected with his used syringes.

Kwiatkowski has worked in 13 hospitals in eight states, including HaysMed in Hays, Kansas.

A day after his arrest, the Hays Medical Center notified patients who had procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory from May 24, 2010, to September 22, 2010. Patients were advised of the federal charges against Kwiatkowski.

HaysMed officials notified 474 cardiac catheterization patients who could have been exposed the Hepatitis C while Kwiatkoski was employed there. Of that number, 334 patients have submitted blood samples for testing.

KDHE said two people have tested positive for HCV with a strain that is closely related to the cluster of patients in New Hampshire.

“Our highest priority at this time is to identify patients who may be infected with hepatitis C so they can receive appropriate medical care,” said Robert Moser, MD, KDHE Secretary and State Health Officer.

The NHPHL and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are conducting additional tests to help make comparisons between the strain from the patients and the cluster of patients in New Hampshire.

Patients who have questions about Hepatitis C or their laboratory results can contact Hays Medical Center at 877-261-7140 or KDHE at 877-427-7317.