Bad reaction to TB test

suzanne4, RN · Apr 6, 2006

Definitely just sounds like she is positive. Doesn't sound like anything that you did wrong. She could have also had a reaction and be allergic to the drug, and that will be for her doctor to decide. But from your end, you are just fine.

A positive PPD will be usually greater than 15 mm and can be hard and indurated.

jillyk*rn · Apr 6, 2006

something we have here in south florida a lot.

is she from this country?? some other countries give a "vaccine" and then if they have the ppd done, they will get a reaction.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Apr 6, 2006

Sounds like a positive to me. As far as Florida how true. WIth the large number of transient/mobile, non-native, undercared for persons going through our hospitals it isnt suprising that more of us are not poping up positive. Its almost a weekly occurance at our hospital that staff from the ER, where I work are having to have TB tests done as a previously undiagnosed/asymptomatic case has exposed someone. There days one thinks the whole ER needs to be negative air flow.

On another note look up this disease- neurocysticercosis. Yeah it actually occurs.

RJ

whoamiRN · Apr 7, 2006

The BCG vaccine is administered in many countries, causing a positive PPD or a reaction like this. Sometimes people just don't react well also!

LearningRN · Apr 7, 2006

Hey everyone!

Thanks for all the replies! I feel a lot better! I love going here knowing I can get support from fellow nurses! Thanks again!

elkpark · Apr 7, 2006

If the person has had a vaccine or a positive Mantoux result in the past, s/he should not have any more skin tests. When my skin test "turned" back in nursing school many years ago (prior to nursing school, I had been running a soup kitchen and was apparently exposed in my contact with our "street people"), my physician told me to never allow anyone give me a skin test again -- there's no point clinically, because once you're positive, you're positive for good; and there is a possibility of a strong negative reaction -- anything from what you describe to actually sloughing necrotic tissue from the forearm ...:uhoh21:

Remember that the Mantoux (PPD) test doesn't test for the presence of TB "bugs," it tests for the presence of antibodies your body has produced in response to TB "bugs." All it measures is whether you have ever been exposed to the TB organism (enough for your body to have produced antibodies), and, once those antibodies are there, they're there for keeps.

HillaryC, RN, CRNA · Apr 9, 2006

If the person has had a vaccine or a positive Mantoux result in the past, s/he should not have any more skin tests. When my skin test "turned" back in nursing school many years ago (prior to nursing school, I had been running a soup kitchen and was apparently exposed in my contact with our "street people"), my physician told me to never allow anyone give me a skin test again -- there's no point clinically, because once you're positive, you're positive for good; and there is a possibility of a strong negative reaction -- anything from what you describe to actually sloughing necrotic tissue from the forearm ...:uhoh21:

I converted after my first year of nursing school, and my reaction was similar to what the original poster described, though my induration was just 13mm. I had a red patch on my arm that was so painful it was distracting. I also was told not to get another PPD, because the next reaction could be even worse.

ZZTopRN, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2006

I had BCG vaccine as a teen. My father was positive for TB. As an adult, I had a very large induration. In the 80's I had another skin test. Mind you, I was working as an RN in a large hospital. Since last year I have had about 4 or 5 Mantouxs, 2-step, and 1 refused a doctors note that the ppd was negative. So I had to take another ppd last week for the 2-step, that is also 0 centimeters for induration or redness. Curious. I guess BCG wears off after so many years?