Gyeonggi-do, Tuberculosis Infection Among Nursing Assistants at Postpartum Care Center in Namyangju... Prompt Measures Underway

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] It has been confirmed that a nursing assistant working at a postpartum care center in Gyeonggi-do was infected with tuberculosis, prompting Gyeonggi-do to take immediate action.

Through an epidemiological investigation, the province quickly conducted tuberculosis tests on 17 individuals who used the newborn room during the possible infection period and plans to hold an online briefing session for guardians to help them understand the treatment process.

According to Gyeonggi-do on the 14th, nursing assistant B, who works at postpartum care center A located in Namyangju-si, was finally confirmed to be infected with tuberculosis based on a sputum culture test via bronchoscopy conducted on January 11.

B underwent a sputum culture test via bronchoscopy on November 22 of last year, and the test results, which can take up to 8 weeks, were released on this day.

Upon receiving the final test results for B on the 11th, the province formed an epidemiological investigation team in cooperation with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s Metropolitan Disease Response Center and Namyangju Pungyang Public Health Center to conduct an on-site investigation. On the following day, the 12th, a countermeasure meeting involving experts was held to establish and implement rapid response measures including the scope of contact investigation, screening methods, and follow-up actions.

Considering that newborns are contacts, the province applied the possible infection period (from November 7 to December 8, 2021) and decided to conduct tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis tests on 17 individuals who used the newborn room during that period. On the morning of the 14th, related guidance messages were sent to guardians, and individual phone notifications are also being made.

The government and local authorities will cover the costs of testing and treatment for these individuals, and the treatment will be handled by medical staff from Nowon Eulji University Hospital and Jeongseok Pediatric and Adolescent Hospital.

Additionally, to alleviate guardians’ anxiety and help them understand the epidemiological investigation and treatment process, an online briefing session featuring a pediatric infectious disease expert will be held at 3 p.m. on the 14th.

The province is currently prioritizing chest radiography for 13 workers employed in the newborn room of the relevant hospital. The province explained that there is no issue with using the postpartum care center as there is no possibility of tuberculosis transmission at this time.

Meanwhile, B showed abnormal findings on a chest CT scan during a health checkup in August last year and visited a higher-level hospital in September, where a sputum test was conducted and returned negative. Subsequent follow-up tests continued. B also underwent a sputum culture test via bronchoscopy on November 22 and received a final positive diagnosis on January 11 of this year.

At the time of the tuberculosis patient report on December 2, test results indicated that B’s tuberculosis was non-infectious, but B refrained from going to work from December 8 and concurrently took anti-tuberculosis medication in preparation for possible transmission.

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