Pediatric resident diagnosed with TB

CHICAGO, April 11 (UPI) -- A 26-year-old pediatric resident potentially exposed hundreds of patients, including babies, to tuberculosis, officials at three Chicago-area hospitals say.

The female resident, a doctor-in-training from Northwestern University, was diagnosed with TB this week, said the Chicago Department of Public Health.

As of Friday, no one who had been around the woman had been diagnosed with TB and doctors say the risk to patients is minimal, the Chicago Tribune reported Saturday.

The three hospitals where she worked, however, are continuing to notify patients who may have been exposed to the woman during the last 10 months, the Tribune said.

The three hospitals are Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Children's Memorial Hospital and Evanston Hospital.

TB is a bacterial disease that usually affects the lungs and can be but fatal if left untreated. People who have been exposed for 120 hours or more to someone with TB are most at risk for infection, said Dr. Susan Gerber, chief medical officer of the Chicago health department.