[Exposure of a cohort of newborn infants to tuberculosis in a neonatology service].
BACKGROUND
A nursery nurse that was working in the neonatology service had been diagnosed with tuberculosis. As a consequence, the newborn infants were in danger of a possible contamination during a 4-month period.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty kids that had been in touch with the nurse were given attention. Prophylactic treatment for three months with isoniazid and rifampicin has been proposed to all families. Each of them was screened with a tuberculin sensitivity test and was given chest radiography initially and after three months.


RESULTS
None of the children was initially suspected for tuberculosis. Among the chest radiographies, 97.6% were normal and all the intradermal tuberculin were either negative or in the norm following a vaccination by the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. In most cases, the treatment tolerance was high.


CONCLUSIONS
A 4-year-long surveillance ensured that no infant was infected. This procedure has established that the risk of transmission by a nurse is low, should it be for newborn babies, as long as guidelines are strictly adhered to.
Dubrulle
S
S
Service de pédiatrie du centre hospitalier de Compiègne, 2, avenue Henri-Adnot, 60200 Compiègne, France. sigo.dubrulle@wanadoo.fr
Vervel
C
C
Boutignon
H
H
Romeo
B
B
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin