Busan Neonatal Unit Nursing Assistant Tuberculosis Infection, Postpartum Care Center in Turmoil... Amidst This, Infectious Tuberculosis as Well

Busan City Launches Epidemiological Investigation of 300 Visitors to M Postpartum Care Center Neonatal Room

Panoramic view of Busan City Hall. (Photo by Busan City Hall)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] It was revealed that a nursing assistant working in the newborn room of ‘M Postpartum Care Center’ in Busan contracted infectious tuberculosis on November 6, triggering an emergency response centered on the postpartum care center.

Busan City announced on the 9th that it took immediate action upon receiving the tuberculosis infection report from the nursing assistant.

The nursing assistant had a normal chest radiograph result during a regular health checkup in March this year but reportedly visited a medical institution in October due to coughing symptoms.

Although sputum and chest CT tests conducted at that time showed no abnormalities, a sputum culture test confirmed positive on the 6th, leading to the report of a tuberculosis patient while still working.

The health authorities immediately launched an epidemiological investigation.

Busan City stated on the 9th that it formed an epidemiological investigation team jointly with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s Gyeongnam Regional Disease Response Center and Saha-gu Public Health Center to conduct on-site investigations, and after holding a countermeasure meeting with experts, it prepared and is implementing rapid response measures including the scope of contact investigation, screening methods, and follow-up actions.

Considering that newborns were exposed, the quarantine authorities applied the widest possible infectious period, extending to three months before symptom onset.

Therefore, tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis tests will be conducted on about 300 people who used the newborn room from July 15, 2020, to November 6, 2023.

Busan City plans to hold an online briefing session at 8 p.m. on the 9th with pediatric infectious disease experts to alleviate the anxiety and questions of guardians regarding the epidemiological investigation and treatment process.

The government and local governments will cover the costs of testing and treatment, and medical staff from Busan National University Hospital, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, and Yangsan Busan National University Hospital will be in charge of treatment.

A Busan City health official said, “Chest X-ray examinations were first conducted on 17 workers in the newborn room of the postpartum care center, and no one showed signs of tuberculosis. Currently, there is no possibility of tuberculosis transmission, so mothers who are currently admitted or planning to be admitted to the facility need not be anxious.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.