Jun 16, 2005

Veterans Affairs Hospital in Massachusetts, Others Investigating TB Exposure
By Greg Sukiennik
Associated Press Writer


BOSTON (AP) - A Veterans Affairs hospital is asking hundreds of patients and staff to be tested for tuberculosis after learning a worker was diagnosed with the disease.

Sixx says: Illegals work at the V.A. in Dallas

Dr. Michael Charness, chief of staff at the West Roxbury VA hospital, said Wednesday night the hospital, after consulting with the Boston Public Health Commission, is "casting a wide net" in asking more than 200 staff and more than 700 patients to be tested.

However, few workers and patients are expected to become infected.

A spokesman for Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch said he learned Wednesday from the House Veterans Affairs Committee that the worker was a female surgical intern who also had worked at Cape Cod Hospital, Boston Medical Center and Brockton Hospital.

Sixx says: If someone having surgery was exposed to the intern, and by that I mean if she had her hands in their guts, there is going to be hades to pay

Rich Copp, a spokesman for Brockton Hospital, said the worker was at the hospital about six months ago, and the hospital was in the process of assessing who should be tested.

Cape Cod Hospital said the intern had worked at the hospital in January. Spokesman David Riley said the hospital was working to identify who should be tested, and to determine if she was tested when employed there.

He said the worker learned about the tuberculosis diagnosis Tuesday.

Boston Medical Center did not immediately have a comment Wednesday night.

Worlwide, tuberculosis kills about 2 million people a year. Antibiotics can cure tuberculosis but treatment involves a regimen of up to four different drugs administered for six months. Many strains of tuberculosis also have become resistant to the available drugs.

Sixx says: All together now: MRSA
AP-ES-06-16-05 0412EDT

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