Washington nurse suspected of infecting two patients with hepatitis C

Editor's Note

An emergency department (ED) nurse at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington, who was suspected of stealing injectable drugs and infecting at least two patients with hepatitis C, has now contracted the disease herself, the May 1 News Tribune reports.

The linkage between the nurse and the patients led the hospital to announce a safety alert and recommend that 2,600 patients who might have interacted with the nurse in the ED seek treatment. The patients will receive mailed notifications from the hospital this week.