Contracting TB

Nurses General Nursing

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I know people shun the thought of TB as the diseases of the poor. I dont know how I contracted the disease but I am currently taking treatment. PPD was positive and they saw something in my XRAY. I have been crying for the past few weeks or so. I'm mad at myself. Also, somewhat disappointed. Also, I'm thinking of pursuing another career. It's like all this time I spent on taking care of may patients, and this is what I get. I need your words of encouragement. I dont know what to do at the moment. I'm currently applying for jobs abroad but they saw it while I was undergoing medical. Now, I'm thinking I have no hope.

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The overwhelming majority of people who get TB never get active TB.

And judging from your comments im presuming you havent had a culture done yet?

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my pulmonologist advised me to take the medication already. here its always the xray. i need advise. i really want to take my job in a different country but now it looks bleak

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After reading your post, I'm taking a guess that you don't realize HOW MANY healthcare workers test positive at some point in their careers on a PPD....? I mean, MANY. One nurse...I'll call her very seasoned....said it was her badge of honor, LOL....she knew she'd been in nursing long enough, when FINALLY she came up positive! After XX number of years going into patient rooms for days BEFORE they were determined to be active TB's, it's just a game of odds. It wasn't a matter of doing anything wrong--just not being psychic enough to determine WHICH patient was contagious with WHAT.

Not to make light of it, or even suggest that most nurses DO test positive, it's just not nearly as big a deal as you might think. Where I work, there is a LOOONG list of PPD positive employees---who came from all over the country in terms of employment areas and exposures, as well as out of the country. They do annual screenings with Employee Health to keep up with watching for s/sx, but overall, NONE of them has had any actual issues.

I'm also curious: you said they "saw something in an xray"; did they do a Quantiferon blood test on you? Or just looked at the xray alone? A cxr is a diagnostic for TB, but "something" doesn't necessarily MEAN it's TB (did they see a specific nodule? or what?) without other diagnostic tools being positive.

Do a bit of research on TB, and you'll find a HUGE difference between carrying the TB bacteria (and not being ill, or contagious) and those who ARE active---ill, and contagious.

Don't let this deter you from your new career as an RN. Fact is, there's so much "stuff" you can pick up on a grocery cart, or on the table at the food court in the mall, that the only way to be sure you don't get "something" is to stay in your home and sit in a tub of antibacterial gel. Not a way I'd go ;)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
After reading your post, I'm taking a guess that you don't realize HOW MANY healthcare workers test positive at some point in their careers on a PPD....? I mean, MANY. One nurse...I'll call her very seasoned....said it was her badge of honor, LOL....she knew she'd been in nursing long enough, when FINALLY she came up positive! After XX number of years going into patient rooms for days BEFORE they were determined to be active TB's, it's just a game of odds. It wasn't a matter of doing anything wrong--just not being psychic enough to determine WHICH patient was contagious with WHAT.

Not to make light of it, or even suggest that most nurses DO test positive, it's just not nearly as big a deal as you might think. Where I work, there is a LOOONG list of PPD positive employees---who came from all over the country in terms of employment areas and exposures, as well as out of the country. They do annual screenings with Employee Health to keep up with watching for s/sx, but overall, NONE of them has had any actual issues.

I'm also curious: you said they "saw something in an xray"; did they do a Quantiferon blood test on you? Or just looked at the xray alone? A cxr is a diagnostic for TB, but "something" doesn't necessarily MEAN it's TB (did they see a specific nodule? or what?) without other diagnostic tools being positive.

Do a bit of research on TB, and you'll find a HUGE difference between carrying the TB bacteria (and not being ill, or contagious) and those who ARE active---ill, and contagious.

Don't let this deter you from your new career as an RN. Fact is, there's so much "stuff" you can pick up on a grocery cart, or on the table at the food court in the mall, that the only way to be sure you don't get "something" is to stay in your home and sit in a tub of antibacterial gel. Not a way I'd go ;)

This.

We are exposed to many things, especially TB.

Breathe...follow the treatment plan and keep swimming.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Are you still in the Philippines?

We are all exposed to many things during our careers. You are in a country that is high risk for TB. Did you get the TB vaccine? If so you may have had a false positive result.

CDC | TB | Fact Sheets - BCG Vaccine

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Oh emm gee. All your posts were very encouraging. This forum has always been my go to whenever I feel down and/or something happened at work. Currently on intensive tx. I showed it to my pulmonologist, the opacoties revealed tb. What they saw in my xray is faint fibrotic tb residual, stable persistent nodulocalcification. Can this clear up? What countries can I apply for as a nurse?

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Also quantiferon is not yet available here.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I worked with a "crusty old bat" nurse who mentioned once she didn't get the yearly PPD. She had active TB as a child and was sent to old fashioned TB sanitorium. In spite of this, she had worked as a nurse for over 40 years, many of those years in NICU where our patients have little immune system.

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Hmm what countries will i be able to work in?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Oh emm gee. All your posts were very encouraging. This forum has always been my go to whenever I feel down and/or something happened at work. Currently on intensive tx. I showed it to my pulmonologist, the opacoties revealed tb. What they saw in my xray is faint fibrotic tb residual, stable persistent nodulocalcification. Can this clear up? What countries can I apply for as a nurse?

These types of questions qualify as medical advice. You need to discuss these concerns with your treating pulmonologist or local health department.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Hmm what countries will i be able to work in?

Worry about this once your acute active TB is resolved. You won't be able to travel to other countries whilst being treated for acute tuberculosis.

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