Document text
--> --> Salem nurse diagnosed with TB SALEM (AP) - About 100 patients and employees at Salem Hospital were being tested for tuberculosis after a nurse was diagnosed with the active form of the disease. The nurse, whose condition was not released, worked for about a week while contagious, from Oct. 17-23, hospital officials believe. She was diagnosed Oct. 28. About 50 patients and 49 employees who had at least 30 minutes of direct contact with her during that time were being tested. Other patients, staff and visitors are not considered to be at risk, said Cindy Wagner, the hospital's infection control manager. The case is complicated because the nurse worked with cancer patients, whose immune systems already are compromised. Those patients are more difficult to test and are more likely to quickly develop the active form of the disease, according to state epidemiologist Dr. Mel Kohn. The disease can lie dormant in the body for years. Another test in 12 weeks will indicate new exposures, said Evelyn Lancaster, tuberculosis program manager for the state Health Services division. Once identified, the disease can be effectively treated with drugs. Wagner said the hospital tests every newly hired employee for TB; those who work with patients are tested every year. Confidentiality rules prevent hospital and health officials from saying whether they know how the nurse contracted the disease. They would not say whether, or when, she might return to work. It could take as long as three months to determine whether the disease was spread to anyone else, Wagner said. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing