Possible HIV exposure at Buffalo VA hospital

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Possible HIV exposure at Buffalo VA hospital

http://www.centurylink.net/news/read.php?rip_id=<DA3PJUL82@news.ap.org>&ps=931

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — More than 700 patients at the Buffalo Veterans Administration Center may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C because of accidental reuse of insulin pens, according to a hospital statement and published reports.

Authorities told The Buffalo News there is a "very small risk" for the diabetic patients who may have been exposed to the reused insulin pens between Oct. 19, 2010 and November 2012. The VA memo obtained by the News said the problem was discovered by a routine pharmacy inspection last Nov. 1. The News first published the report on its website Friday............

The VA said it is offering free blood tests to rule out any infections.

More at link........
 
From the Fox story, the likelihood is very small. The needles were changed each time but for some reason the pens themselves were re-used.
Unlike an actual needle and syringe - you cannot draw back or aspirate with a pen-type injection device (which would be the biggest risk of cross-contamination).
Why in the world would each patient not have their own insulin pen? Is this how we treat our vets? Shoddy work, in this nurse's opinion.
 

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