TB Scare Strikes West Virginia Hospital

Search Begins For Exposed Moms And Babies After Employee In OB Ward Tests Positive

(AP)  Officials at a hospital in West Virginia are trying to track down hundreds of patients and dozens of staff who may have been exposed to tuberculosis.

Officials from City Hospital in Martinsburg say a screening conducted about a month ago revealed an employee working in the obstetrics unit had an active TB infection. They have compiled a list of nearly 900 patients and 60 staff members who were potentially exposed.

"We're talking about 880 patients," said Michael Groves, vice president of patient care services at the hospital. "We had to determine who they were, and compile a list of patients who were potentially exposed."

Teresa McCabe, the hospital's vice president for marketing and development, said those identified as at-risk for tuberculosis will be tested and, if necessary, treated at the hospital.

"We feel that exposure is probably minimal," she said. "Chances are, no one was exposed."

Berkeley County health officer Diana Gaviria also said the risk that anyone was infected with the disease is low. She said casual contact is unlikely to spread an active TB infection.

But there is concern because the infected employee worked in the obstetrics unit.

"That is a reason we're being really proactive about this. We're trying to reach out to all mothers and babies," Gaviria said.

Notification letters are being sent to people who were patients in the obstetrics unit, and under the infected worker's direct care, between April 9 and Nov. 29.