Hospital tech could have spread hepatitis C, feds say
This undated photo provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Hampshire shows David Kwiatkowski, a former lab technician at Exeter, N.H., Hospital, arrested at a hospital in Massachusetts where he is receiving medical treatment. Kwiatkowski, originally from Michigan, was charged Thursday, July 19, 2012, with causing a hepatitis C outbreak involving at least 30 patients who were treated at Exeter Hospital's cardiac catheterization lab. (AP Photo/U.S. Attorney's Office)
CONCORD, N.H. >> Authorities in at least six states are investigating whether a traveling hospital technician accused of infecting 30 people with hepatitis C in New Hampshire exposed earlier patients to the liver-destroying disease.
David Kwiatkowski (quit’-OW’-ski), a former technician at Exeter Hospital, was arrested Thursday morning at a Massachusetts hospital where he is receiving treatment.
U.S. Attorney John Kacavas says once 33-year-old Kwiatkowski is well enough to be released, he will be transferred to New Hampshire to face federal drug charges. He describes Kwiatkowski as a “serial infector” who worked in at least half a dozen states.
Investigators believe Kwiatkowski, 33, stole syringes containing fentanyl, a powerful anesthetic more potent than morphine, and injected himself with them. They say he then put another liquid, such as saline, into the syringes, which were later used for patients. They said a search of his vehicle found an empty fentanyl syringe and several needles.
