TUBERCULOSIS SCARE IN CHICAGO-AREA HOSPITALS
Public health officials from the Chicago Department of Public Health are testing hundreds of patients and staff members at Evanston Hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Children's Memorial Hospital after a first-year pediatric resident was found to have tuberculosis (TB). The Public Health Department is contacting anyone who may have had "significant contact" with the resident from November to April 1.
The Department of Public Health calls the situation a "cause for concern" rather than one of alarm.
The resident was working in the infant special care unit at Evanston Hospital, which is part of the Northshore University Health System, from February 11 to March 12. The department is contacting the 80 patients she treated that month and another 30 to 40 health workers. The resident also worked at Northwestern Memorial's Prentice Women's Hospital from November 3 to 21. The department is contacting 17 patients it believes may have been affected. She also worked at Children's Memorial Hospital between November 1 and April 3. In all, 150 patients and 300 staff members may be at risk for exposure, but the possiblity that any patients would have been infected is "highly unlikely" according to a spokewoman from Children's Memorial.
If you have been around someone who has TB disease, you should go to your doctor or your local health department for tests.
