Deaths After Care Home TB Cases

Health officials are investigating four cases of tuberculosis (TB) at a care home near Airdrie. Four residents of the Eastercroft House care home in Caldercruix were diagnosed as having TB, three of whom have since died, NHS Lanarkshire said.

The fourth resident, who was diagnosed in October last year, is responding to treatment. All residents and staff at the care home are being screened for the disease as a precautionary measure. TB was certified as the cause of death of two residents and a contributory factor in the death of the third. Test results in May this year showed the cases were linked, NHS Lanarkshire said.

An outbreak control team was established to consider the cases. About two-thirds of the residents have been screened and the exercise is continuing. In addition the residents, their families, visitors and all staff members have been informed of the situation.

Health officials said there was no evidence of any significant risk to the wider public. Dr Jim Miller, consultant in public health medicine, said: “Tuberculosis is a relatively rare disease in Scotland today and it is not easily transmitted.

“It is always good public health practice to fully explore any potentially linked cases of tuberculosis that come to light and look for any early signs of the symptoms so that prompt treatment can be received.

“We are working with the care home to fully investigate these cases.

“The relevant control measures have been put in place and residents, staff and relatives have been informed. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”

TB most commonly affects the lungs but can affect almost any part of the body. It can be spread when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes or talks and another person breathes in the bacterium. Initially there may be no symptoms, but when they develop later they include a persistent cough, weight loss, fatigue and high temperature.