Babies In Intensive Care At Sacramento, Solano Hospitals Exposed To Tuberculosis

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Sacramento and Solano county health officials are working to notify the parents of 35 newborns that their babies were exposed to tuberculosis while in the neo-natal intensive care unit at two area hospitals.

The exposure happened at the NICU at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento and NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield when a Solano County resident with an active case of TB spent time in both facilities. A total of 35 babies were exposed.

State health officials will also be contacting other patients, visitors and staff who may have been exposed to the TB germ.

"From the medical evidence we have reviewed so far, we believe that the risk of infection with TB in this particular case is low," said Michael Stacey, Solano County's chief medical officer. "We will take the necessary measures to ensure that all those with significant levels of exposure are tested and, if necessary, treated with antibiotics."

The period of exposure at Sutter Memorial's NICU was from March 14 to March 31. The exposure at NorthBay Medical Center was from April 11 to April 19.

Tuberculosis is a serious, treatable, and slow-growing bacterial lung disease. It is transmitted by coughing, sneezing, talking or singing, according to the state health officials.

People with an active case of TB may cough, fell weak, have a fever, lose weight and cough up blood.

The Solano resident with TB is currently isolated and receiving treatment.