N.H. hospital reopens ER closed by mystery illness

Mysterious odor contributed to sickening of 20 operating room staff members


The Emergency Department of Exeter Hospital in Exeter, N.H., reopened 27 hours after a mysterious odor contributed to the sudden sickening of 20 operating room staff members, according to an article on the Union Leader website.

The ER was closed because it is directly above the inpatient operating rooms where hospital workers began feeling dizzy and nauseated.

Twelve hospital workers were taken to other hospitals; the rest were treated and released. 

“We sampled air. We sampled — everything normal. Filtration, everything in the OR and the ED and found nothing that would’ve caused this,” Assistant Fire Chief Eric Wilking said in the article.

Read the article.

 

 



August 23, 2017


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Wanted: Scientific Standard for Hospital Cleaning

No accepted criteria exist for defining a surface as clean using microbiologic methods.


NLCS Strengthens Safety and Compliance with Comprehensive Electrical Program

Case study: A renewed partnership with Siemens helps the senior living provider meet NFPA 70B standards, reduce risk, and enhance reliability across its communities.


Sun Valley Surgery Center Suffers a Data Breach

On September 3, 2025, SVSC became aware of a potential issue involving SVSC’s information systems.


EV Charging Stations: Planning for Safety, Convenience, Expansion

Managers need to ensure patient access, coordinate with clinical operations and ensure every phase of construction supports the facility's mission.


Why Ambulatory Surgery Centers Are Turning to Dedicated HVAC Systems

Design experts from Neenan Archistruction explain how single-unit HVAC systems for each operating room enhance infection control, comfort, and resiliency.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.