Hospital gridlock after HIV panic in Bhopal

Bhopal: A day after an HIV+ woman delivered a baby at JP Hospital, panic swept through hospital staff and patients triggering quarantine orders of obstetrics and gynaecology departments. The woman had hid her HIV status during hospitalization.
The health department is assessing the situation and a senior doctor has been asked to track medical history of the patient and find if other patients were infected.While two operation theatres at JP hospital have been shut, obstetrics and gynaecology department has not carried out operations for almost a week. The woman was earlier being treated at community health centre (CHC), Berasia.
JP hospital officials said, HIV-infected patient was admitted last week. She was allegedly refused treatment at CHC, Berasia. She was in labour when she arrived at night and delivered the next day. "When her husband brought her regular medicines for HIV treatment, hospital staff realised the error and informed authorities," said an official.
As panic spread through the hospital, many staffers threatened strike. "The situation is under control. A senior doctor has been given charge to investigate and also access possibility of spread of HIV," said district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Veena Sinha.
Another standard microbiological surveillance of operation theatres at JP hospital found prevalence of tetanus too. Two infected OTs have been shut for at least three weeks. "We are awaiting a second culture report and only then a decision to reopen OTs will be taken," said acting hospital superintendent Dr Anil Shukla.