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CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Clinic is studying a potential case of TB involving an employee.
The employee works in the pediatric intensive care unit, but is currently being treated for symptoms resembling tuberculosis.
Twenty patients with whom this employee had direct contact were contacted for physical examination and prophylactic antibiotic treatment as a precaution.
Two hundred other patients were notified only because they were in the ICU at the time the employee was present.
The Cleveland Clinic reported the case to the Cuyahoga County Health Board. However, it is important to note that it is not a confirmed case and that the two initial tests that the employee suffered were negative. It can take up to six weeks for a culture to show a definitive answer.
Tuberculosis is a disease that is easy to treat and very difficult to contract. It is also possible that the employee is suffering from something different, the Cleveland Clinic takes precautionary measures.
The Cleveland Clinic released the following statement Friday afternoon:
"We are currently testing an employee who works in our pediatric intensive care unit on our main campus for a possible case of TB that we believe has a low probability. The preliminary tests are negative and we continue to monitor and we will have a definitive answer in the coming weeks. The employee is currently on leave and we are working closely with the Cuyahoga County Health Department. There were no other places in the children's hospital that were affected. As a precaution, we proactively contact patients and our employees who may have been exposed from early September to early November of this year. The safety of our patients, caregivers and families is our top priority. If you have additional questions, call 216-442-2500. "
Click here to learn more about TB.
© 2018 WKYC
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