350 Infants Possibly Exposed to Tuberculosis by California Hospital Employee, Says Hospital

[inanna]

Source: ABC News

Dec 12, 2015, 11:54 AM ET

More than 300 infants may have been exposed to tuberculosis at a San Jose, California, hospital by one of the employees, the hospital said.

The Santa Clara Valley Medical Center learned in mid-November that an employee who worked in the newborn nursery was suspected of having active tuberculosis, the hospital said in a news release Friday, and the employee was placed on leave.

Three-hundred fifty infants may have been exposed, the hospital said, adding that they will be monitored closely for signs.

<snip>

"While the risk of infection is low, the consequences of a tuberculosis infection in infants can be severe," Dr. Stephen Harris, Chair of Pediatrics, said. "That's why we decided to do widespread testing and start preventative treatments for these infants as soon as possible."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/350-infants-possibly-exposed-tuberculosis-california-hospital-employee/story?id=35731011

[valerief]

1. I didn't realize TB could be detected so quickly.

Harris said the nurse had undergone her annual TB checkup in September and had tested negative. But in mid-November, he said, the nurse had sought medical care from her doctor for a reason unrelated to work. During a chest X-ray, her physician noted something suspicious in her lung, and she later tested positive for TB.

http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_29237316/santa-clara-county-reports-hundreds-mothers-newborn-and

At first, I wondered if it was an employee with no med ins, but she's a nurse and get medical treatment (good thing). All hospital employees should. Hell, everyone should.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Same thing happened here at UMC about two years ago.

Talk about getting swept under the rug. Full scale panic to crush any story in the local media.