City Hospital officials are contacting more than 800 patients and 60 staff who may have been exposed to tuberculosis. An annual screening at the Martinsburg-based hospital revealed that one employee working in the obstetrics unit had an active TB infection. Since then, officials have been tracking down people who were in the unit and under the infected worker's direct care from April 9 to Nov. 29.
"We're talking about 880 patients. We had to determine who they were, and compile a list of patients who were potentially exposed," said Michael Groves, vice president of patient care services at City Hospital.
Teresa McCabe, the hospital's vice president for marketing and development, said those persons considered at risk will be tested and, if necessary, treated at City Hospital. "We feel that exposure is probably minimal," she said.
A concern is that the employee worked in obstetrics. "That is a reason we're really being proactive about this," said Berkeley County Health Officer Diana Gaviria. "We're trying to reach out to all mothers and babies."
Notification letters are being sent out to those who may have been exposed, and the county Health Department will offer free TB screening clinics through January.
12/29/07
WEST VIRGINIA: TB Diagnosis Prompts Testing of Hospital Staff, Patients
Source: Associated Press; Courtesy of the CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention