St James's Hospital in Dublin has begun screening a number of patients for tuberculosis after a healthcare professional employed there was diagnosed with TB.
The hospital employee is on leave and undergoing treatment, according to a spokesman, who said that the hospital had carried out an extensive "contact tracing exercise in consultation with the local public health team in order to ascertain which patients and members of staff might have been at risk".
The spokesman added: "Only those patients and members of staff who have been in direct prolonged contact with the healthcare worker in question could be at any possible risk."
A special advisory group at St James's has identified 177 patients who could have been at risk and these have been referred for follow-up screening as a precautionary measure. An information leaflet has been sent to all identified patients and a confidential helpline has been set up.
Prof Luke Clancy, the consultant respiratory physician who is advising the hospital on the screening, commented: "The bacteria is transmitted if you inhale tiny droplets coughed up or spoken at you by an infected person at close proximity." He explained that, because of the incubation period, it would take six to eight weeks after exposure before any test would register positive.
Prof Clancy explained that TB infection was now fully treatable and curable. "We will be monitoring patients over the next two months," he added.
The hospital has confirmed that appropriate medical care will be provided should anyone be found to have contracted the infection. All the members of staff who worked with or may have come into contact with the infected employee have been identified and are being contacted by the hospital's occupational health department.
To ensure full transparency and disclosure, St James's Hospital has written to 661 patients who might possibly have come into contact with the member of staff in question. These people are not considered to be at any risk of having acquired the infection and they are not being advised to undergo screening. Patients with known GPs have also been notified of the situation.