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<p>Nearly 450 patients at Salem Hospital in Massachusetts were possibly exposed to HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. According to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/450-patients-massachusetts-hospital-exposed-hiv-hepatitis/story?id=104941135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a>, the hospital shared a statement with the outlet detailing the possible exposure on Thursday, November 16.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">How The Nearly 450 Patients Were Possibly Infected</h3>
<p>According to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/450-patients-massachusetts-hospital-exposed-hiv-hepatitis/story?id=104941135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a>, the patients possibly exposed to HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C were endoscopy patients. <a href="https://www.verywellhealth.com/endoscopy-5088795" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Verywell Health</a> notes that an endoscopy utilizes a tube and camera inserted into the body. This gives medical professionals a look at one&#8217;s internal organs.</p>
<p>Endoscopy patients undergo procedures such as colonoscopies, which examine the large intestines; bronchoscopies, which examine the lungs; and laparoscopies, which examine the abdomen.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the outlet notes that the patient group &#8220;may have been exposed over a period of two years.&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/450-patients-massachusetts-hospital-exposed-hiv-hepatitis/story?id=104941135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a> reports that Salem Hospital suspects the exposure may have occurred &#8220;during the administration of IV medications.&#8221; Additionally, the hospital notes its previous IV administration was &#8220;in a manner not consistent with our best practice.&#8221;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">How Did Salem Hospital Address The Issue &; What Will Potentially Exposed Patients Do Now?</h3>
<p>According to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/450-patients-massachusetts-hospital-exposed-hiv-hepatitis/story?id=104941135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a>, Salem Hospital was made aware of the subpar practice earlier this year. The hospital adds that it has &#8220;corrected the practice and notified its quality and infection control teams.&#8221;</p>
<p>However, the outlet adds that the hospital&#8217;s statements did not reveal how its practices have been &#8220;corrected.&#8221;</p>
<p>Furthermore, the facility has informed the outlet that it has worked closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to determine that &#8220;infection risk to patients&#8230; is extremely small.&#8221;</p>
<p>Salem Hospital has reportedly notified &#8220;all potentially impacted patients.&#8221; Additionally, the facility has reportedly set up a hotline for patient questions and is offering &#8220;free screenings.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;There is no evidence to date of any infections resulting from this incident,&#8221; Salem Hospital&#8217;s statement to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/450-patients-massachusetts-hospital-exposed-hiv-hepatitis/story?id=104941135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a> reads.</p></blockquote>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/patients-at-salem-hospital-may-have-been-exposed-to-hepatitis-hiv/3192284/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>, the notice given to &#8220;potentially impacted patients&#8221; reportedly did not disclose &#8220;the serious illnesses to which they may have been exposed.&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/450-patients-massachusetts-hospital-exposed-hiv-hepatitis/story?id=104941135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a> reports that a spokesperson for Mass Brigham, the company that owns Salem Hospital, has told the outlet that tests for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are &#8220;standard tests for an exposure of this kind.&#8221;</p>
<p>Additionally, the spokesperson reportedly noted that since the risk of infection is &#8220;small&#8230; if patients have not been notified, they don&#8217;t need to be concerned.&#8221;</p>
<p>Massachusetts Department of Public Health has informed <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/450-patients-massachusetts-hospital-exposed-hiv-hepatitis/story?id=104941135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a> that it has advised Salem Hospital to &#8220;notify all impacted patients in writing about the potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.&#8221; Additionally, the MDPH has advised Salem Hospital to &#8220;offer free-of-charge follow-up care, including testing.&#8221;</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">More Details Regarding HIV, Hepatitis B, And Hepatitis C</h3>
<p>According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/treatment.html#:~:text=HIV%20treatment%20reduces%20the%20amount,of%20other%20sexually%20transmitted%20diseases." target="_blank" rel="noopener">CDC</a>, there is no cure for HIV. However, it can be controlled with treatment, reducing the virus&#8217;s presence in the body and lowering or preventing the risk of transmission to others.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b#:~:text=HIV%2Dinfected%20persons.-,Treatment,dehydration%20from%20vomiting%20and%20diarrhoea." target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Organization</a> notes that Hepatitis B is &#8220;preventable with a vaccine.&#8221; However, those who contract the infection &#8220;can be treated with medicines.&#8221; From there, medicinal use &#8220;must continue&#8230; for life.&#8221;</p>
<p>According to the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Organization</a>, there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. However, it can be treated with antiviral medications.</p>
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