Hepatitis C scare at South Nassau Communities Hospital

Four patients that were treated at South Nassau Communities Hospital have recently been notified that they should be tested for Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV after a Department of Health investigation.

The New York State Department of Health and SNCH initiated the investigation after a patient who was treated at the hospital’s Pain Management Center in May 2010 developed a Hepatitis C infection. According to a release from the NYSDOH, the investigation found no evidence linking the patient’s infection with SNCH. However, the investigation did uncover that a patient with Hepatitis C was treated at the Pain Management Center earlier that day, but officials could not determine if the infection was transmitted from that patient or if it was just a coincidence.

“South Nassau Communities Hospital maintains active and effective infection control practices designed to protect patients from the spread of disease,” the hospital said in a release. “The patients have been notified out of an abundance of caution. It is standard procedure to recommend testing for other infections, such as Hepatitis B and HIV, when testing is performed for Hepatitis C as the method of transmission is similar for these infections.”

The DOH said that while the chance is low that any other patients were infected, it provides public notification when any patients are notified as the results of an investigation.

According to the Center for Disease Control, Hepatitis C is an infection spread by contact of the blood of an infected person. Symptoms include jaundice, fatigue, dark-colored urine, stomach pain, loss of appetite and nausea. The disease can also lead to liver infection.

Anyone with questions can call the DOH during regular business hours at 1-888-636-1551.