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Source: http://www.telegram.com/article/20090807/NEWS/908079971/1116
Friday, August 7, 2009
St. V's hospital employee tests positive for pertussis
By Lisa Eckelbecker TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
leckelbecker@telegram.com
WORCESTER ? An employee of St. Vincent Hospital has tested positive for pertussis, or whooping cough, and the hospital has begun notifying patients and screening others who may have been exposed to the illness.
Dr. Octavio J. Diaz, chief medical officer at St. Vincent Hospital, said the hospital learned yesterday that a blood test confirmed a female employee of the center for women and infants had tested positive for pertussis. He said the worker had been sent home, tested by her doctor and treated with antibiotics.
In addition to notifying state and local public health authorities, doctors, nurses and other staff, the hospital is calling all who were patients at the center between June 23 and Aug. 3. A couple of hospital employees are being tested for pertussis and have been told to stay home, Dr. Diaz said, but no patients have reported signs of the disease.
?Out of all the phone calls we?ve made, absolutely no one has had any complaints or symptoms,? Dr. Diaz said.
Pertussis is a contagious infection caused by bacteria. It starts out like a cold, but coughing spells worsen as the disease progresses. The disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics.
Dr. Leonard J. Morse, city commissioner of public health, said one of the city?s public health nurses has begun an epidemiological investigation of the case.
?This is an alert for our community,? Dr. Morse said. ?If there?s anybody in our community that?s experiencing a persistent cough, it would be prudent to notify their physician and be examined for this infection, which is very treatable.?
Friday, August 7, 2009
St. V's hospital employee tests positive for pertussis
By Lisa Eckelbecker TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
leckelbecker@telegram.com
WORCESTER ? An employee of St. Vincent Hospital has tested positive for pertussis, or whooping cough, and the hospital has begun notifying patients and screening others who may have been exposed to the illness.
Dr. Octavio J. Diaz, chief medical officer at St. Vincent Hospital, said the hospital learned yesterday that a blood test confirmed a female employee of the center for women and infants had tested positive for pertussis. He said the worker had been sent home, tested by her doctor and treated with antibiotics.
In addition to notifying state and local public health authorities, doctors, nurses and other staff, the hospital is calling all who were patients at the center between June 23 and Aug. 3. A couple of hospital employees are being tested for pertussis and have been told to stay home, Dr. Diaz said, but no patients have reported signs of the disease.
?Out of all the phone calls we?ve made, absolutely no one has had any complaints or symptoms,? Dr. Diaz said.
Pertussis is a contagious infection caused by bacteria. It starts out like a cold, but coughing spells worsen as the disease progresses. The disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics.
Dr. Leonard J. Morse, city commissioner of public health, said one of the city?s public health nurses has begun an epidemiological investigation of the case.
?This is an alert for our community,? Dr. Morse said. ?If there?s anybody in our community that?s experiencing a persistent cough, it would be prudent to notify their physician and be examined for this infection, which is very treatable.?