The Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Summerlin Hospital in Las Vegas $39,600 due to eight violations of allegedly failing to protect employees from a fatal tuberculosis outbreak last year, according to a Las Vegas Review Journal report.
The state's OSHA launched an investigation after an undetected, undiagnosed carrier gave birth to twins in the hospital. All three patients died due to the infection.
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A report by the Southern Nevada Health District indicates up to 59 people who came in contact with the hospital, whether they were employees, patients or hospital visitors, tested positive for latent TB.
During the investigation, an OSHA officer found the hospital's infection exposure control plan was outdated and did not include all symptoms indicative of a TB infection, according to the report.
The hospital has 15 days to either pay the fines or contest the citations, according the report.
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