Judge: TB patient to remain in hospital
Because of infection concerns, the patient was unable to attend the hearing in state District Judge Gil Jones’ 33rd state District Court. Instead, the proceedings were handled by teleconference Wednesday.
The patient, whose name has not been released, was diagnosed with the disease in early August. In September, Burnet County law enforcement officials received tips the man was leaving his home on a regular basis, and he was quickly taken into custody for violating the conditions of his treatment.
“He’s already been there about a month,” Burnet County Attorney Eddie Arredondo said Friday. “From our standpoint, he will remain there for two main reasons. First, his track record shows he wasn’t taking the situation seriously enough since he was leaving his home. Second, if we let him go home, he could grow an immunity to the medications and you only have one shot to take them correctly to cure the disease.”
Arredondo said although patients are typically past the infectious stage after one to three months of continued treatment, it’s a risk officials aren’t willing to take.
The disease is caused by a bacteria called mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can attack the lungs, kidneys, spine and brain if left untreated.
When first diagnosed, the man was released to continue taking his medications and follow a course of at-home treatment, according to officials. However, he left his home to run a series of personal errands which included banking and the purchase and service of a vehicle at a Marble Falls auto dealership, authorities said.
He was ordered hospitalized at a Texas Center for Infectious Disease facility in San Antonio after being referred to state custody by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
The man’s treatment could continue for up to nine months. He will not be released from the hospital until he receives a physician’s approval, officials said.
“We expect him to be released in six to nine months to go home. At that point, he would be considered cured for all concerned,” Arredondo said.
byoung @thepicayune.com