The San Antonio AIDS Foundation's SAAF House skilled nursing facility on Grayson Street.

SAAF takes precautionary steps to protect patients in wake of TB outbreak
QSanAntonio, December 1, 2011

Officials at the San Antonio AIDS Foundation say they are taking precautionary steps to protect its HIV-positive clients and in-patients from infection after it was discovered that two residents had tested positive for tuberculosis.

The two infected individuals were SAAF clients, one was a patient at SAAF House, the skilled nursing facility, and the other was a resident of Carson House, the agency's transitional housing facility. A third client who is believed to have been infected is currently being tested.

The Health Department is conducting an investigation to determine the origin of the infections.

David Ewell, SAAF's executive director, says that the infected individuals have been moved to a hospital where they are under quarantine. None of SAAF's facilities have been quarantined by the Health Department says Ewell. But, he added, the agency is taking steps to protect it's patients and clients from possible transmission.

"Individuals with weakened immune systems can be highly susceptible to TB," says Ewell. "Since TB can be transmitted in small groups or by interacting with someone with TB, SAAF is taking measures to alleviate all potential contact to HIV-positive clients and residents."

On Tuesday, Nov. 29, SAAF stopped serving meals in its dining room to its community based clients. Instead those clients are being provided hot meals to go. SAAF staff members are delivering meals to clients at Carson House.

Additionally, SAAF's case managers are only seeing clients by appointment and clients must wait in an outside courtyard until their appointment.

No new residents will be admitted to the either of SAAF's facilities until it is determined all current patients are TB-free.

SAAF is also restricting visits to in-patients and asking volunteers not to come to the facility for the time being.

Jill Rips, SAAF's deputy director, says that the protocol for residents is that they will have a T-spot (blood test) and a chest x-ray for base line, with a repeat T-spot 8 to 10 weeks later. If all remain negative, the minimum amount of time SAAF will be closed to new admissions is 8 to 10 weeks. If there are positives, this period will be extended.

Rips said that all SAAF staff members who are either HIV-positive or who have a prior positive PPD (skin test), will similarly get the T-spot and chest x-ray with 8 to 10 week follow-up. All other staff are getting a PPD, followed by another PPD 8 to 10 weeks later.

Rips added that SAAF routinely tests all staff with PPDs every 6 months, but will change to quarterly for the next year.

Ewell says that all of the precautionary steps that SAAF is taking are strictly voluntary.

"We're trying to keep our client population as safe as we can. We realize that this will inconvenience some of our clients but it's better to act prudently than risk any more infections."

Although measures are being taken to protect HIV-positive individuals, SAAF is still open to the general public for HIV testing. The testing wing at SAAF is sectioned off from the rest of the facility.