Insulin Error Leaves Hundreds At Risk For Blood-Borne Illness
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Insulin Error Leaves Hundreds At Risk For Blood-Borne Illness
Army medical officials have talked to hundreds of patients at risk of developing blood-borne illnesses because of improperly administered insulin injections at a Texas military hospital.
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EL PASO (February 7, 2009)--Army medical officials have spoken with nearly 300 patients who are at risk of developing blood-borne illnesses because insulin injections were improperly administered at a West Texas military hospital.

Officials at the Army's William Beaumont Army Medical Center said as many as 2,114 diabetes patients treated at the hospital since August 2007 could have been infected because of an improper procedure for injecting insulin.

Hospital officials say the problem stems from an insulin pen system designed to allow a patient to use the same pen several times.

The pens were inadvertently used multiple times on different patients.

Though a new sterile needle is used for every injection, health officials said blood could be transferred from the needle to the remaining insulin.

Army officials insisted that that likelihood of infection is low.

The pen was used in nine military facilities, but may have been used improperly in only one other; Fort Polk’s Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital in Louisiana.

Officials say 15 or fewer patients at the Fort Polk facility were potentially affected.

William Beaumont Army Medical Center has set up a round-the-clock call center for those with questions or concerns.

The toll free number is 1-866-770-0194.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 8, 2009 at 07:31 PM

How could something like this happen! As if these people don't have enough health issues!
Posted by: Someone Location: Near-Here on Feb 8, 2009 at 11:14 AM

I'm still glad the people that gave the shots do not work at Dow Chemical, or Comanche Peak !!!
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