Costs of a contact screening activity in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Abstract

InMarch 2011, a medical officer working in a metropolitan New South Wales (NSW) neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).Hehad immigrated toAustralia froma high-incidence country 2 years earlier with negative pre-immigration screening. Occupational TB screening prior to commencing employment at the hospital, conducted in line with NSW Health policy, was also negative. The man was screened again, also in line with the NSW Health policy, after he displayed TB symptoms (i.e. a 6-month history of nonproductive cough and weight loss), and was smear-positive on induced sputum. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed on polymerase chain reaction, fully sensitive to standard anti-TB therapy.