North Carolina Hospital Warns 10 Patients of Infection Risk

An Asheville, N.C., hospital is urging 10 patients to be tested for potentially serious viral infections following word that a scope was not properly sterilized in the endoscopy unit.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that Mission Hospital issued the alert after the situation was reported by a staff member in late January.

Mission President Jill Hoggard Green said the worker noticed a dark substance on a scope, indicating that the scope had not been properly cleaned. Hoggard Green said there was a special chamber that the technician was not aware of. She said that technician was re-trained. It is not known what the substance was.

Hoggard Green said Mission isn’t aware of any complications for the patients to this point. The hospital is covering the cost of the tests.