Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives

Brief Report

A low risk of nosocomial transmission of subclinical tuberculosis to neonates in a postpartum care center under COVID-19 control measures: In Kyoung Kim, So Jung Kim, Kyoung Hee Bae, Mi Young Kim, Ji Eun Oh, Mi Gyeong Lee, Young Ae Kang, Jin Su Song; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2022;13(6):448-452. Published online December 16, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0235

Abstract PDF: We report the results of investigating and managing a tuberculosis (TB) exposure in apostpartum care center. Among the contacts exposed to a nursing assistant with subclinical TB,5 of 44 neonates (11.4%) had positive tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) at 3 months of age, and all theTST-positive neonates received the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination. Seven of 28 healthcareworkers (25.0%) and 1 of 3 household contacts (33.3%) were positive in the initial or repeatedinterferon-gamma release assay. None of the contacts developed TB disease during the studyperiod. Annual TB examinations of healthcare personnel at a postpartum care center under theTuberculosis Prevention Act in South Korea enabled the early detection of subclinical TB, whichreduced the risk of transmission to neonates under strict coronavirus disease 2019 preventionmeasures.

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