Improper disinfection procedures may have exposed 293 Baystate Noble patients to hepatitis, HIV

Baystate Noble Hospital has notified colonoscopy patients that the scopes used in their procedures may not have been properly disinfected. Springfield-based Baystate Health said Friday that because of a lapse in disinfection procedures, 293 patients who had colonoscopies at Noble between June 2012 and April 2013 are at risk of having been exposed to blood-borne pathogens during their procedure. Baystate Health acquired the much smaller and formerly independent Noble Hospital in July 2015. Baystate Health spokesman Benjamin Craft said everyone affected, the 293 patients, have been sent a letter notifying them.