Hundreds of mothers and infants may have been exposed to tuberculosis at Northern California hospital by infected nurse 

  • A nurse tested positive for the disease at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose in November 
  • All 350 infants born at the hospital between August and November will have to take a daily antibiotic for six to nine months
  • 368 mothers and 338 employees may also be at risk and must be screened
  • The nurse tested negative during her annual TB check-up in September 
  • TB can be life-threatening for infants as it can spread through bloodstream

More than 1,000 people may have been exposed to tuberculosis at a Northern California hospital by a nurse who was exposed to the disease - and hundreds of infants could be at risk. 

All 350 infants born at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose from August to November will have to take a daily oral antibiotic for six to nine months as a precaution, even if they test negative.

Officials also identified 368 mothers and 338 employees that may have also been exposed at the hospital's Mother and Infant Care Center. 

More than 1,000 people may have been exposed to tuberculosis at the Santa Clara Valley Medican Center in San Jose, California by a nurse who was exposed to the disease - and 350 infants could be especially at risk

More than 1,000 people may have been exposed to tuberculosis at the Santa Clara Valley Medican Center in San Jose, California by a nurse who was exposed to the disease - and 350 infants could be especially at risk

The infected nurse tested negative for tuberculosis during her annual checkup at the hospital in September, according to the San Jose Mercury News

But she tested positive in November after a doctor spotted something suspicious in her lung during a chest X-ray she received while seeking care for an unrelated medical condition. 

The nurse was immediately placed on a paid leave of absence after she notified the hospital. 

Hospital officials said the nurse, whose name will not be publicly released, was not a 'very contagious individual'. 

The nurse did not display symptoms of coughing or sneezing, two ways in which the airborne disease is spread. 

But because tuberculosis can be life-threatening for infected infants the hospital is taking extra precaution, according to the hospital's Chair of Pediatrics Dr. Stephen Harris.

'While the risk of actual infection is low, the consequences of tuberculosis infection in infants can be very severe,' he said. 

 All 350 infants born at the hospital between August to November will have to take a daily oral antibiotic for six to months as a precaution, even if they test negative for the airborne disease (pictured in a file photo) 

 All 350 infants born at the hospital between August to November will have to take a daily oral antibiotic for six to months as a precaution, even if they test negative for the airborne disease (pictured in a file photo) 

Harris said that in toddlers and adults the tuberculosis infection stays in the lungs, but it can infect infants' bloodstream and spread throughout the body. 

He added that the disease is often diagnosed late and it can take months before it becomes deadly. 

Parents are being notified by mail and phone and screenings and treatment will begin Monday, according to CBS San Francisco

All 1,056 people who were potentially exposed will be screened and the hospital is footing the bill for all testing and treatment. 

No one has yet reported an infection.  

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