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Northern Ireland: HCW with MDR tuberculosis

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  • Northern Ireland: HCW with MDR tuberculosis

    Last Updated: 08/06/2007 08:35

    NI hospital on tuberculosis alert


    A hospital was on tuberculosis alert today after a member of staff contracted a rare form of the disease.


    The employee, at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, contracted a multi-drug-resistant form of the respiratory disease and is in a stable condition.

    Work colleagues and friends have been screened for the disease while the hospital has begun drawing up a list of patients who may also require testing.

    The Northern Health and Social Care Trust nevertheless insisted the chances of people catching this strain of TB was extremely low.

    Dr Peter Flannigan, the Trust's medical director, said they were concerned about possible exposures to the infection between September last year and last month.

    "Our main concern is with regard to patients who during a period of time were treated in Surgical Ward One and the gynaecology ward," he said.

    "The healthcare worker also did some work in the accident and emergency department.

    "But because of the very limited contact, time wise, they would have had with the public at that stage, this does not present any degree of significant risk to anybody who attended the accident and emergency department."

    Tuberculosis attacks the lung and is a bacterial infection which is spread through the air.

    Among the symptoms are chest pain and the coughing up of blood.

    Sorry, we've looked high and low, as we say here in Ireland and there's not a sign of that page. Why not go back to the homepage to find something else?
    "Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights that must be our call to arms"
    Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

    ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

  • #2
    Re: Northern Ireland: HCW with MDR tuberculosis

    250 to be screened amid TB alert at Co Derry hospital


    Friday, June 08, 2007

    Around 250 people are facing health tests in the North following a TB alert at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, Co Derry.

    A staff member at the hospital has contracted a virulent and drug-resistant strain of the disease

    The worker is currently in a stable condition and tests are being arranged for his or her friends and colleagues.

    Around 160 patients and up to 100 staff members at Causeway Hospital will also be screened, but the hospital says the risk of infection is minimal.

    "Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights that must be our call to arms"
    Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

    ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

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