Preterm twins from the mother with miliary tuberculosis: Importance of early recognition and prompt response in infection control to manage congenital tuberculosis exposure in a neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Delayed diagnosis of congenital tuberculosis (TB) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a serious problem in terms of infection control. Here, we report our preemptive infection control activities implemented after the diagnosis of miliary TB in a mother of preterm twins (index twins, NB1 and NB2) in NICU. Added to this, we reviewed previous case reports of congenital TB exposure in the NICU setting. Immediately after recognizing miliary TB of the mother, the index twins were isolated before their TB diagnosis and received preemptive antiTB medication, and contact investigations were also conducted. Eventually, NB1 was diagnosed with congenital TB at 29 days of age and NB2 showed no definite evidence of TB. Through contact investigation, 11 of 16 exposed infants received isoniazid prophylaxis and no positive TST result was detected after 3 months. One of 31 exposed health care workers showed new interferon-gamma release assay conversion. Moreover, our case showed much shorter contagious period compared to those of the previous reports (8 versus 17–102 days). This suggests that a high index of suspicion and prompt measures can help prevent congenital TB outbreak and reduce the burden of infection control activities in NICU.