Eight States, Nearly 10,000 Patients Now in Hep C Probe

A disastrous hepatitis C outbreak first detected in New Hampshire now involves eight states, including Maryland.

Dave Kwiatkowski, who has worked at four Maryland hospitals, last week was with spreading his hepatitis C to 30 patients by stealing their medication to get high at New Hampshire's .

State health officials identified about 7,200 Exeter Hospital patients that should be tested for the disease after possibly being exposed to it. Hundreds more – at least – will likely be tested in the seven other states Kwiatkowski worked at.

Prosecutors said Kwiatkowski would shoot himself up with syringes full of powerful narcotics like Fentanyl and then replace the needles with a solution to make it look as if they were untouched. The tainted needles were then used on unsuspecting patients. The tactic is known as "drug diversion."

Kwiatkowski, who prosecutors said knew he had hepatitis C as early as June 2010, was a "traveler" who did technicial work in New Hampshire and six other states.

The Associated Press and CNN identified the following hospitals Kwiatkowski has worked at (his dates of employment are in parentheses):

• Houston Medical Center in Warner Robins, Georgia (Oct. 2010 to March 2011)
• Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas (May 2010 to Sept. 2010)
• Maryland General Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland (Jan. 2010 to March 2010)
• Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland (July 2009 to Jan. 2010)
• Southern Maryland Hospital in Clinton, Maryland (Dec. 2008 to Feb. 2009)
• Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland (May 2008 to Nov. 2008)
• Saint Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York (Nov. 2007 to Feb. 2008)
• Oakwood Annapolis Hospital in Wayne, Michigan

Health officials also said Kwiatkowski worked at hospitals in Arizona and Pennslyvania.

Officials are working with their counterparts in all eight states to determine if he spread his hepatitis C to patients.

Kwiatkowski faces up to 24 years in prison on charges of fraud and tampering. He could face more serious charges if any of his alleged victims ends up dying of hepatitis C – a liver disease that can be fatal.

Kwiatkowski is currently undergoing treatment for his hepatitis C at a Massachusetts hospital. He is expected to be in court this week.

An FBI report Kwiatkowski as a pathological liar who faked a cancer diagnosis and made up stories about playing college baseball and having a dead fiance.

When investigators asked Kwiatkowski about the Exeter victims, he told them, "I'm more concerned about myself, my own well being ... I've learned here to just worry about myself and that's all I really care about now."