How many times have you been exposed to TB this year?

[Alex_RN, BSN]

I am including when you come back to work after a few days and find your patient in "rule out TB" precautions. Between rule out and actual, my number is: 3.

It is still February.

[beekee]

I appreciate that the admission questions about communicable diseases is pretty far down the list. Why would I need to know if you might have TB until several minutes after I’ve been in a room with you without any PPE. Good times.

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

Back in 2013, I worked for a facility for a year. We had 5 or 6 cases of TB. I was lucky, they were known to have TB before my shifts started but several of my co-workers were exposed. All because the patients (who were coughing up blood int he ED and were high risk for TB) weren't screened adequately.

I have not been exposed or even risked exposure since then.