Pakistan: In a disturbing incident at Nishtar Hospital in Multan, 30 patients have reportedly contracted AIDS due to negligent handling of dialysis procedures. According to hospital authorities, the dialysis department used the same machines for multiple patients, including an AIDS-infected patient, which led to the transmission of the virus to other patients.
Some medical experts have pointed out that proper sanitization protocols were not followed, as the machine used for an AIDS patient was reused without adequate sterilization, resulting in cross-contamination.
Following the outbreak, two dialysis machines at the hospital have been decommissioned, and an inquiry committee has been set up to investigate the incident. Hospital management, however, has suggested that some patients might have contracted the virus from external blood transfusions before coming to the hospital, which could also be a contributing factor to the spread.
This incident raises serious concerns about procedural lapses and sterilization standards at the hospital, as well as the need for rigorous adherence to infection control practices to prevent further cases. The ongoing inquiry aims to determine the exact cause of the spread and to ensure accountability for the patients affected by this preventable lapse.
