Endoscopies at Vanderbilt exposed patients to HIV, hepatitis C

Nashville-based Vanderbilt Health is notifying patients that they may have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV as a result of botched endoscopy procedures performed at a clinic located on the hospital’s main campus. 

The news comes from WZTV, who interviewed patients who received these terrifying phone calls. For many, the tainted procedures were performed months ago, raising concerns of further spread to friends, family and strangers.

The risk to patients is low, a spokesperson for Vanderbilt said. However, anyone potentially infected is being notified as a precaution. Around 4% of total procedures are linked to potential exposure to viruses. 

A solution used during the procedure is being blamed for the risk of infection, but the state health department is still investigating the incidents. 

“We recently discovered an issue in how a solution was administered through the scope during a limited number of endoscopy procedures at the Vanderbilt Clinic. We immediately corrected the issue and reported it to the Tennessee Department of Health. We are in the process of notifying patients who had an endoscopy procedure and may have been affected,” a Vanderbilt spokesperson said in a statement. 

The exact number of patients impacted has not been revealed. However, according to the report, the number of tainted endoscopies dates back six months. 

Read the full story from WZTV at the link below.