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After an outbreak of tuberculosis in Chemnitz: authorities are looking for contacts in other federal states

2023-02-10T06:22:07.342Z


The tuberculosis outbreak in Chemnitz (Saxony) is apparently expanding. Chains of infection are now being checked in other federal states.


The tuberculosis outbreak in Chemnitz (Saxony) is apparently expanding.

Chains of infection are now being checked in other federal states.

Chemnitz – This news at the end of January was startling: open pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed in a nursing student who was doing an internship in a nursing home in Chemnitz (Saxony).

At the beginning of February, the responsible health department reported a second case of tuberculosis - this time again an open tuberculosis of the lungs.

It was a close contact of the sick student.

Tuberculosis outbreak in Chemnitz: Search for contacts is extended to Hamburg and Augsburg

In connection with the first case of tuberculosis, 75 contact persons in Chemnitz have so far been examined.

Of these, 25 were found to be infected with tuberculosis.

Almost 20 of them at the nursing school and four in the nursing home.

Possible chains of infection are now also being checked in other federal states.

Specifically, contacts to Hamburg and Augsburg (Bavaria) are known, the authorities there have been informed, the city announced on Thursday, as reported by the dpa news agency.

Four people are currently being treated in hospital for tuberculosis after the outbreak in Chemnitz.

Two are said to be open tuberculosis.

In the case of open pulmonary tuberculosis, the patient excretes pathogens, especially when coughing and sneezing, and can infect other people.

According to the city of Chemnitz, a tuberculosis infection can usually be detected in the blood eight to twelve weeks after infection at the earliest.

If the blood test is positive, further tests will be ordered.

This also includes an X-ray examination.

If there are conspicuous X-ray findings, nursing students will be banned from entering nursing facilities.

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria and is notifiable.

The most common causative agent of tuberculosis in humans is M. tuberculosis, reports the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

“Not every contact with tuberculosis leads to an infection.

Not every infection leads to an illness,” emphasizes the city of Chemnitz in a press release.

Whether an infection actually occurs depends, among other things, on how long and intensive the contact with the sick person was and how susceptible the person is to an infection.

Symptoms of Tuberculosis (TB): What to look out for

Tuberculosis symptoms can vary.

While tuberculosis of the intestine or bone was also diagnosed in the past, the disease now predominantly affects the lungs.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is easily treatable with medication.

In pulmonary tuberculosis, the symptoms at the beginning of an infection are non-specific.

Cough, night sweats and slightly elevated temperature may be possible.

In the course of the cough usually intensifies, with and without sputum.

A high fever can also occur.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) lists the symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis:

  • Cough

  • chest pain

  • shortness of breath

  • lack of appetite

  • Unintentional weight loss

  • Light fever

  • Increased sweating (especially at night)

  • fatigue

  • General weakness

  • Signs similar to those of a common cold

Source: RKI

These viruses and bacteria make us sick

These viruses and bacteria make us sick

Tuberculosis: How the infectious disease spreads

The disease is caused by bacteria and is notifiable.

The pathogens are mainly excreted through coughing and sneezing and spread through aerosols in the air.

+

Outbreak of tuberculosis in a care facility in Saxony (symbolic photo) is spreading widely.

© Science Photo Library/imago

In principle, infection with tuberculosis is not as easy as with other infectious diseases that can be transmitted by aerosols, such as varicella, measles or Sars-CoV-2, writes the RKI.

Whether an infection occurs depends on various factors:

  • frequency, closeness and duration of contact;

    as a rule, exposure to a person suffering from contagious pulmonary tuberculosis, mainly in closed rooms, is required for several hours

  • Amount and virulence of the inhaled pathogens

  • Sensitivity (susceptibility) of the exposed person

The incubation period averages six to eight weeks.

In the case of infectious tuberculosis, the patient is no longer infectious within two to three weeks.

(ml)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-02-10

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