Rogue Hospital Employee in Hep C Outbreak?

One possible explanation for a hepatitis C outbreak at that at least 14 people?

A drug-abusing hospital employee.

State health officials are investigating the possiblity, according to the Union Leader.

State Public Health Director Jose Montero told the UL that so-called "drug diversion" has happened before. That's when a hospital employee injects himself/herself with a hospital drug in a syringe, then replaces it with a substance like saline – at which point the syringe is reused for patient care.

In 2010, a Colorado hospital technician was sentenced to 30 years in prison after she used the tactic. The technician, a woman, had hepatitis C and passed it on to more than 30 patients.

While the Exeter Hospital outbreak has infected 14 so far, that total could rise. Test results on patients are still coming in. One of the 14 infected is a .

New Hampshire health officials have emphasized that the cause of the Exeter outbreak is currently not known and still under investigation.

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