title: Neonatal tuberculosis: an experience that teaches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study reports on an experience following contact by a large number of newborn babies with a nurse infected by active tuberculosis (TB).
  
  
  METHODS
  A large number of newborn babies were checked for possible contact with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) using interferon-gamma tests (IGTs) to determine specific treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and seven infants showed a positive IGT positive and were not affected by active TB. All were treated with anti-tubercular drugs and were followed-up for 1 year. None of the infants developed active TB and all infants showed normal tuberculin skin tests and chest-x-rays, as well as IGT results at the end of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience suggests that newborns are at low risk of infection after contact with a nurse with active TB. IGTs can be used to assess possible contact with MTB and to determine a reduced number of infants to treat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Catholic University, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Rome, Italy. cromagnoli@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riccardi
authors.forename: Velia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Purcaro
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delogu
authors.forename: Antonio Alberto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zuppa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009726:Nurses; D013663:Teaching; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission