New Hampshire hospital employee charged with infecting patients with hepatitis C worked in Ann Arbor
This story was updated at 2:20 p.m.
A New Hampshire hospital worker charged with infecting patients with hepatitis C formerly worked at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, Michigan officials announced Monday.
David Kwiatkowski, 33, is charged with causing a hepatitis C outbreak at a cardiac catheterization lab at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire.
David Kwiatkowski
AP Photo/U.S. Attorney's Office
After Kwiatkowski was arrested July 19, the MDCH began its investigation into Kwiatkowski’s employment history in the state, said Angela Minicuci, spokeswoman for the department.
Kwiatkowski was employed at the main campus of the University of Michigan hospital for three months in 2006 as an interventional radiologic technologist in the Department of Radiology. He did not have responsibility for administering medication to patients, according to a news release from UMHS.
UMHS declined to comment as to why Kwiatkowski left the hospital.
The investigation is ongoing into the medical facilities in Michigan where Kwiatkowski was employed during the following time frames:
- Sinai Grace Hospital in Detroit from June to October 2005
- Harper Hospital in Detroit from October 2005 to September 2006
- University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor from Sept. 11 to Dec. 8, 2006
- Oakwood Annapolis Hospital in Wayne from Jan. 15 to Sept.15, 2007
The MDCH is asking patients who visited the above facilities and received an injectable narcotic during the time when Kwiatkowski worked there to be tested for hepatitis C, as they may be at increased risk for the virus.
UMHS is asking patients who fit into this category be tested as a precaution. Beginning 8 a.m. July 31, patients may call (877) 233-4040 with questions and to schedule an appointment.
Kwiatkowski is known to have been infected with hepatitis C since at least June 2010, according to the MDCH. The results of the investigation thus far have not indicated that Kwiatkowski had the virus while working at a medical facility in Michigan.
Due to a negative result on a hepatitis C test Kwiatkowski took while employed at a particular medical facility in Michigan, the MDCH has excluded two hospitals from its investigation.
Hepatitis C is a bloodborne viral infection that can cause inflammation of the liver and may lead to chronic health issues. It can be detected by blood tests and treated with antiviral medications.
The investigation into Kwiatkowski's employment history as a hospital worker was launched nationwide after he was arrested and charged for federal drug crimes.
State health officials and hospitals in Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania have also confirmed his employment. He was hired in New Hampshire in April 2011.
A hospital official in Arizona said Kwiatkowski had been fired from her facility in April 2010, after he was found unresponsive in a men's locker room with syringes and needles. Tests showed Kwiatkowski had cocaine and marijuana in his system, said Monica Bowman, chief executive officer of the Arizona Heart Hospital.
Investigators believe Kwiatkowski stole syringes containing fentanyl, a powerful anesthetic more potent than morphine, and injected himself with them. They said he then put another liquid, such as saline, into the syringes, which were later used for patients.
Altogether, 31 people -- including Kwiatkowski -- have tested positive for the same strain of the disease since the investigation began in late May.
Massachusetts police said Kwiatkowski was found intoxicated along with a suicide note in a hotel room in Marlborough, Mass., the week before his arrest.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Comments
Rudra N Rebbapragada
Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 4:49 p.m.
FAILED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM : My concern is about the failure of the Hospital Health Care System. It is very easy to blame David and ignore the bigger problem; the lack of functional integration in the System. The lack of functional harmony is revealed when we describe the nature of functions performed by the players. David is not involved in providing Care to the patient. David's job should not be that of performing isolated procedures. The primary concern of each player must be that of providing care and each player must know as to whom the care is delivered, how it is delivered and what is the consequence of the care delivered. Such involvement with an expectation of achieving a positive outcome to provide some benefit to the patient will introduce a 'Spiritual' element in the Care delivered by the System.
Rudra N Rebbapragada
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.
What is U of M Health Care System? : A 'System' by definition must have components that interact for the complete execution of a function. If the function is that of providing care to a given patient, the component parts must interact from the time of patient's admission until the time of the discharge of that person from the System. This reported use of an interventional technician by the Department of Radiology is a defective process as the technician works on a limited contract to perform a single procedure without any obligation to participate in providing care to the patient. This lack of involvement is the basis of a lack of spiritual element in the care provided. Spiritual Care is Comprehensive Care where all the components work together to generate Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility.
MARK
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
Wow what did you just say?????
Veracity
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
He did not have to be administering narcotic injections to spread his infection. He could have gained access to narcotics ordered for patients, either in diagnostic units where he worked, or elsewhere like on some wards. He could have contaminated needles and syringes which were later used for patients. For this reason patients who received narcotic injections while David Kwiatkowski worked at UofM should get tested. If he were addicted at the time he worked at UofM can you believe that he would try to obtain patient narcotics for his own use?
julieswhimsies
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 3:45 a.m.
Um...So, if we believe we may have been injected with a narcotic at U of M in 2006 (and how are we supposed to remember this...) And the U of M hospital records are a notorious mess. We just call the number and get a blood test to confirm we are hepatitis C free? Who pays for these tests? If I am found to have Hep C, isn't the U of M culpable. This article is so confusing and badly written, I have no idea what exactly we are supposed to do. Jeez A2.com
lisaone
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 2:36 a.m.
Wow...his facebook is being attacked with some pretty vicious comments. Can't say he doesn't deserve it.
Geri
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
My husband died while at Harper. He died from an infection. He died November 26, 2005.
MARK
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 8:21 p.m.
I am sorry for your loss
julieswhimsies
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 3:47 a.m.
I am so very sorry for your loss, Geri. You have my deepest sympathy.
trespass
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 11:38 p.m.
What did the Arizona hospital do to get his license revoked? Many hospitals just fire the person and never tell potential new employers about the drug abuse or other misconduct. The people who were infected after he was a known drug abuser should feel like the abused children at Penn State who might have been saved if the institutions had cared more about future patients rather than being sued by the addicted employee.
snapshot
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 10:36 p.m.
The article quoted U of M "he did not have responsibility for adminnistering medications to patients", so what's the invesdtigation for? Not everybody in the medical profession is an angel of mercy.
Tesla
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.
ugh. Gross.
JRW
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
If Kwiatkowski didn't administer medication to patients at UMHS, then why would patients have to contact UMHS if they had an injectible narcotic during the dates he was employed there (Sept. 11 to Dec. 8, 2006)? What exactly was he employed to do? Why isn't there more specific information?
Tesla
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 10:03 p.m.
He was never in a position to inject anyone. He would steal the injection narcotics, inject himself, and replace the fluid with saline and put them back on the shelf. So whoever got that injection more than likely will be infected with Hep C.
DanAA
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 9:10 p.m.
JRW: Even if he didn't have rights to administer medications, they are still worried that he stole the medication and replaced the needle. It's still an issue in his employment. Would you trust that he acted admirable while employed at U of M, even though his time at Arizona was terminated "after he was found unresponsive in a men's locker room with syringes and needles. Tests showed Kwiatkowski had cocaine and marijuana in his system, said Monica Bowman, chief executive officer of the Arizona Heart Hospital." I'd still be worried that he could have tainted the medication, even if he were not the one performing the injection.
JRW
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 8:41 p.m.
The investigation is ongoing into the medical facilities in Michigan where Kwiatkowski was employed during the following time frames: Sinai Grace Hospital in Detroit from June to October 2005 Harper Hospital in Detroit from October 2005 to September 2006 University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor from Sept. 11 to Dec. 8, 2006 Oakwood Annapolis Hospital in Wayne from Jan. 15 to Sept.15, 2007 The MDCH is asking patients who visited the above facilities and "received an injectable narcotic" during the time when Kwiatkowski worked there to be tested for hepatitis C, as they may be at increased risk for the virus. Then the article says: "Kwiatkowski was employed at the main campus of the University of Michigan hospital for three months in 2006 as an interventional radiologic technologist in the Department of Radiology. He did not have responsibility for administering medication to patients, according to a news release from UMHS." If he didn't have responsibility for administering medication to patients, then how could a patient have received an injectible narcotic from him??? This makes no sense. Isn't an injectible narcotic a medication? Someone please clarify.
chefsgirl
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
I had the same question, JRW. If he is NOT administering injectibles, how is he handling the syringe-filled narcotics, injecting himeself, and then filling the syringes with saline and injecting them into unsuspecting patients?
lisaone
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 7:11 p.m.
If you had family and friends who work/worked there, you'd want to know too. Compare it to a vehicle recall and it being reported in the news. It's a way to send an important message out and reach as many possible. As they say, "If you read the news, you know."
djm12652
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
So did he allegedly infect any UM patients or is this just to show the importance of Ann Arbor as the world revolves around it....
Itchy
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 9:22 p.m.
Interesting comment and response of stop reading. Do not like any opinion that does not agree with yours? I prefer, accept and tolerate differing opinions. It's how I learned!
LatersBaby
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 7:46 p.m.
If you are so Anti-A2, then stop reading! It is called annarbor.com by the way! I read many other websites as well but always enjoy the local news here. As for this article, thank you annarbor.com, this is the first I am hearing about this and my Step-Father was at Annapolis sometime in 2007, I will be sure to fill him in. I am grateful that this is getting out and that people are being informed rather then it just being swept under the radar because it isn't "newsworthy" enough for the pessimistic critics out there.
Goober
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
Aw, yes. Ann Arbor is the center of the universe. I felt it when we moved here 22 years ago and this attitude and feeling is still very strong today. I hope that they caged this disease spreader early and his impact to others is non-existent.
Itchy
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 7:24 p.m.
I agree. Odd article how it is written.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 5:50 p.m.
I gotta agree with Dan on this one and i have been known to be critical of A2.com on occasion. I think its a reasonable article. And given that we are in a website called Ann Arbor.com I expect a lot of Ann Arbor related news. I don't go to San Jose.com to find news about Fargo North Dakota.
DanAA
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.
This story is to report that he 1) worked at local hospitals and 2) to inform people who may have come in contact with him through their medical procedures to get checked for Hepatitis C. It has been reported in other papers that Hepatitis C is a fast mutating virus, so that the 31 people who have been linked to him were recent cases. They are trying to establish a potential time period that he was inflected, and inform people to be checked for their own health, as they may not be able to trace the strain of Hepititis C to Kwiatkowski. It is tiring that people automatically jump onto the "Ann Arbor is just trying to say how important it is" when this type of issue is raised. It is a public health issue. If Ebola Virus were found in Ann Arbor, would you want the paper to disregard reporting it, because "it's not news and doesn't affect anybody outside of Ann Arbor"? Grow up.