TB question

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey y'all. I have a quick question about Tuberculosis. I was planning on starting the CNA program this upcoming Monday and had all my paperwork/vaccines ready BUT had a major setback. I was born in Mexico so I had the TB shot and when I came to the U.S I had to get all my vaccines again. I tested positive for TB so they put me on a 9 month treatment. A nurse would come to my house everyday and give me medication. My mom kept the paperwork but fast forward 15 years and that paperwork has been lost.

When I went to get all my vaccines at the clinic, the nurse or medical assistant asked me if I had the TB shot in Mexico and I said yes. So then she was looking over at the list of requirements for the CNA program and she gave me the skin test. 2 days later I go back and she reads it as positive. Now this was already on my shot record but it wasn't signed so I don't know if that's why she went ahead and gave me the skin test. I got the X-RAY done like I was told and then another nurse/medical assistant said that I needed a liver test and treatment that lasted for 3-6 months. I told her that I had already gone through treatment as a child and she said that then it was my duty to tell the nurse that gave me the skin test because now I would need treatment all over again and the Doctor couldn't write the letter saying I was clear to start the program. I guess my question is, since I already had that treated, shouldn't I be able to start the program with the X-RAY results? I am beyond mad at the fact that the nurse didn't inform me of this before she gave me the skin test. Isn't her job to know what she is doing? I don't know if the clinic where I got treated has the paperwork as it was over 10 years ago but Imma try to see if they still have it. Thank you.

My understanding is that if you've received the vaccine you will always be "positive" so another avenue to clear you for exposure needs to be explored, i.e., CXR. Some countries choose to vaccinate, others choose testing and tx. It seems like multiple rounds of tx in the absence of proof of exposure/infection is unnecessary. Of course, if a CXR was positive tx would still be required. I've heard that the vaccine isn't terribly effective so infection could still occur after tx.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Quant Gold blood test. It's reliable even if you had the bcg vaccine

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

It sounds as if you had TB in the past...was your chest X-Ray clear?

It is possible to have TB again...even a latent form, hence the suggestion for further treatment and additional testing.

I know this frustrates you, however, IF your results show that you have TB-the CXR and labs show this, not talking about the skin test-the focus would be on treatment and going from there.

Best wishes.

It sounds as if you had TB in the past...was your chest X-Ray clear?

It is possible to have TB again...even a latent form, hence the suggestion for further treatment and additional testing.

I know this frustrates you, however, IF your results show that you have TB-the CXR and labs show this, not talking about the skin test-the focus would be on treatment and going from there.

Best wishes.

Some countries give tb vaccine to its citizens. This vaccine makes people have false positive when getting the mantoux test. Therefore, people with this vaccine should not get the mantoux test. They instead should have chest xray done every 5 years to prove you dont have tuberculosis.

Hey y'all. I have a quick question about Tuberculosis. I was planning on starting the CNA program this upcoming Monday and had all my paperwork/vaccines ready BUT had a major setback. I was born in Mexico so I had the TB shot and when I came to the U.S I had to get all my vaccines again. I tested positive for TB so they put me on a 9 month treatment. A nurse would come to my house everyday and give me medication. My mom kept the paperwork but fast forward 15 years and that paperwork has been lost.

When I went to get all my vaccines at the clinic, the nurse or medical assistant asked me if I had the TB shot in Mexico and I said yes. So then she was looking over at the list of requirements for the CNA program and she gave me the skin test. 2 days later I go back and she reads it as positive. Now this was already on my shot record but it wasn't signed so I don't know if that's why she went ahead and gave me the skin test. I got the X-RAY done like I was told and then another nurse/medical assistant said that I needed a liver test and treatment that lasted for 3-6 months. I told her that I had already gone through treatment as a child and she said that then it was my duty to tell the nurse that gave me the skin test because now I would need treatment all over again and the Doctor couldn't write the letter saying I was clear to start the program. I guess my question is, since I already had that treated, shouldn't I be able to start the program with the X-RAY results? I am beyond mad at the fact that the nurse didn't inform me of this before she gave me the skin test. Isn't her job to know what she is doing? I don't know if the clinic where I got treated has the paperwork as it was over 10 years ago but Imma try to see if they still have it. Thank you.

Go to a different doctor and tell the doctor you had the tb vaccine in mexico therefore you cannot do the mantoux skin test and should have chest xray done so the new doctor can clear you of TB and sign off on it. Dont tell the new doctor you had tested positive on the mantoux skin test and had treatment done.

Absolutely refuse any mantoux skin test from now on due to having the vaccine. You just need to show your chest xray result.

Good luck!

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Quant Gold blood test. It's reliable even if you had the bcg vaccine

QuantiFERON Products QuantiFERON-TB Gold | QuantiFERON

But if she's had TB and has been treated, she will still test positive. It doesn't differentiate between tx'ed or untx'ed. At this point, the only definitive test would be CXR

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Some countries give tb vaccine to its citizens. This vaccine makes people have false positive when getting the mantoux test. Therefore, people with this vaccine should not get the mantoux test. They instead should have chest xray done every 5 years to prove you dont have tuberculosis.

I'm aware of that, but that's not only what the OP stated; bold is mine:

Hey y'all. I have a quick question about Tuberculosis. I was planning on starting the CNA program this upcoming Monday and had all my paperwork/vaccines ready BUT had a major setback. I was born in Mexico so I had the TB shot and when I came to the U.S I had to get all my vaccines again. I tested positive for TB so they put me on a 9 month treatment. A nurse would come to my house everyday and give me medication.

My mom kept the paperwork but fast forward 15 years and that paperwork has been lost.

The OP not only had the vaccination but HAD TB and was treated for TB; so there is a possibility that the OP may have latent TB after a few years.

I'm aware of that, but that's not only what the OP stated; bold is mine:

The OP not only had the vaccination but HAD TB and was treated for TB; so there is a possibility that the OP may have latent TB after a few years.

You are right. I am almost positive the OP meant to say "I tested positive for TB SKIN TEST". I could be wrong though.

Ok - because you had the vaccine a skin test will always show positive ! Positive does not necessarily reflect that you have the illness, it could be positive because you had the vaccine.

In all facilities I worked the protocol was for employees who had received the vaccine in the past to go and get a chest x ray and in addition fill out a questionnaire. Based on chest x ray and questions they would say negative good to work or needs tx.

There is also a T spot test now, with my last employer they send me straight to get the blood test and I did a questionnaire with the occupational health nurse.

You need to see a physician who is familiar with TB and also who knows how to screen. If the program does not have a policy - do they se occupational health?

In any way - of course it is possible to have gotten the vaccine and - freaky enough - to be positive for TB meaning the actual illness. In that case you would need tx.

I was thinking on doing that but on my shot record it says: "TB positive 2001" and has the clinic stamp next to it. And since last week I got another skin test they wrote positive again, got the X-ray but now doctor won't give letter. So I'm also curious as to if I really do need treatment again or if I can go on without it.

Hello thanks for answering. Sorry I should have been more clear. I had the TB shot not the actual disease. So when they did the skin test it came back positive. I got treated just to be sure and that was done and over with. But the nurse that was going over my chart didnt see that it had been signed by a doctor and all I needed was an X-RAY and she gave me another skin test again. So now they're saying I need treatment all over again and I was wondering if I REALLY need treatment or if I would be okay without it. Like did they trigger anything by giving me the skin test?

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