350 babies, their parents possibly exposed to TB at California hospital
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Clinical lead Doctor Al Story points to an x-ray showing a pair of lungs infected with TB (tuberculosis) during an interview with Reuters on board the mobile X-ray unit screening for TB in Ladbroke Grove in London January 27, 2014. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (Copyright Reuters 2015)
A Northern California hospital says hundreds of babies, mothers and employees may have been exposed to a nurse with tuberculosis and that the infants will need an antibiotic treatment.
The San Jose Mercury News reports Santa Clara County officials are trying to track down 350 babies and their parents who may have been exposed to a nurse with tuberculosis at Valley Medical Center's mother and infant care center.
You may have seen some of the news today about a tuberculosis exposure. Everyone should feel confident that our staff...
Posted by Santa Clara Valley Medical Center on Friday, December 11, 2015
The medical center's head of pediatrics Dr. Stephen Harris Officials said Friday that those who came into contact with the nurse will have to undergo testing for the potentially deadly disease.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He says that as a precaution all 350 infants born between August and November will have to undergo an antibiotic treatment even if they don't test positive for the disease.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that usually strikes the lungs, spreading through coughs and sneezes.