Nurses risk infection

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa is concerned about the rate of TB infection among health workers.

The organisation's TB project coordinator, Kedibone Mdolo , visited 15 health institutions in the Eastern Cape in February and found 36 staff members on TB treatment. She attributed the infections to nurses not using protective clothing as required and health facilities not having enough protective gear.

Healthcare workers have a 3% chance of getting TB, compared with the 1% chance of the average South African, the SA Medical Journal has said.