Central Texas Nurse Likely Infected Patient With Hepatitis After Re-Using Syringes

AUSTIN, TX — A nurse in Central Texas likely infected at least one patient with Hepatitis C through re-use of saline syringes, according to a published report.

The revelation came to light in a report this month from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The 2015 incident happened in Region 7 of the Department of State Health Services, a 30-county area that includes the Austin metro area counties of Travis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop, agency spokesman Chris Van Deusen told the newspaper.

But Van Deusen declined to disclose the hospital and even the county where the incident occurred.

According to the CDC report, the nurse re-used pre-filled syringes for saline flushes in the IVs of multiple patients, putting the patients at risk of contracting blood-borne diseases, according to the report. The incident was first reported to the health services department in October 2015.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

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