“The chance of developing tuberculosis from this level of exposure is very, very low,” Brooke Decker, MD, VA Pittsburgh director of infection prevention, said in a statement. “While it is unlikely anyone exposed in this incident will become ill, out of an abundance of caution we are recommending veterans who receive a letter be tested.”
The TB patient was initially diagnosed Nov. 17 and is currently receiving treatment and responding well to antibiotics, according to the release. The VA is offering free TB testing to any veterans concerned they may have contracted the infection.
More articles on infection control:
CDC reports ‘slight increase’ in flu activity early in season
Microbial genomics company uBiome partners with CDC to investigate HAIs: 3 things to know
Stress of hospital-to-home transitions may impact outcomes for sick children
