Surgical patients at Denver hospital possibly exposed to HIV, hepatitis

Editor's Note

Denver's Swedish Medical Center is asking some 2,900 surgical patients to get tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C after finding that an OR employee may have stolen narcotics, the February 3 Denver Post reports.

Surgical technologist, 28-year-old Rocky Allen worked in the OR from August 17, 2015, to January 22, 2016.

In Allen’s January 29 surgical technologist license suspension summary, the state Division of Professions and Occupations noted that on January 22 Allen removed a syringe labeled fentanyl from the anesthesia work space and replaced it with another labeled syringe. Allen’s urinalysis was positive for fentanyl and marijuana.

At this time, no infections have been found.

At this time, no patient infections have been found Posted: 02/03/2016 12:54:29 PM MST Updated: 02/04/2016 07:52:35 AM MST Swedish Medical Center is asking about 2,900 patients to get tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C after discovering that a former employee may have stolen narcotic pain medicines. Sgt.