Exposure to open tuberculosis on a neonatal unit

Abstract

The mother of a baby on the neonatal intensive care unit was found to have untreated open pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculin skin testing and chemoprophylaxis was offered to selected mothers and babies, depending on level of exposure. One of 3 mothers sharing a room with the index mother and 2 of 20 mothers whose babies were on the neonatal unit subsequently converted to tuberculin and were given isoniazid chemoprophylaxis. Isoniazid chemoprophylaxis was given to 13 exposed babies, none of whom tuberculin converted. Two babies were treated empirically for tuberculosis.