NH holds public session on hepatitis C report

EXETER, N.H. (MyFoxBoston.com/AP) -- On Monday night, health officials in New Hampshire held a community meeting to discuss a report it had issued following a yearlong investigation into a hepatitis C outbreak that infected 32 patients at Exeter Hospital.

The community meeting, which was held at Exeter High School, allowed the public to comment on the report health officials issued Friday regarding its findings and recommendations for Exeter Hospital.

The report concluded that Exeter Hospital failed to either safeguard controlled drugs or fully investigate complaints about David Kwiatkowski, the former medical technician accused of infecting 32 patients with hepatitis C after stealing painkiller syringes and replacing them with saline tainted with his blood. The hospital says much of the report is false and that it was duped by a skilled con-man.

According to the Exeter, N.H. Patch, the hospital said it did everything it could to prevent the outbreak and is willing to pay the $384,000 the state paid to investigate the outbreak.

Kwiatkowski, who has pleaded not guilty to federal drug charges, faces a trial in January.

Cox Media Group