OK- Freaking out about TB now!

jones.rn · Jul 7, 2011

We had a patient on our med/surg floor for two weeks with "possible lymphoma" well on Tuesday he was put in reverse isolation for "possible tb." So great, all those nurses, aides, and mds were exposed.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2011

So after reading the other person's post, and getting my TB test yesterday I am freaking out about the idea of getting TB one of these days.
What are the chances of me getting TB as a nurse in my lifetime? My main concern is that I am very prone to candida and would die if I had to take antibiotics for 6+ months.

You must be young.....and I mean that in the best way.

There are many people who have to take medicines everyday to several times a day. What about juvenile diabetics that take several shots of insulin a day and some are toddlers......while it maybe unpleasant.....I think you'd survive. :hug: I have an auto-immune disorder and take many meds everyday some by mouth, some by injection and at times by IV. It annoys me, it's inconvenient...... but it is survivable. :smokin:

As nurses we are exposed to many disease processes communicable and non-communicable. Follow universal precautions and you should be fine. I have been a nurse for 32 years and I remember a mysterious wasting disease that later turned out to be AIDS. When I think how we never wore gloves except for sterile procedures...... I count my blessings every day that I managed to escape basically unscathed.

Wash your hands, wear gloves and follow universal precautions.....don't worry so much or you'll get lines. :lol2:

JOJOba · Jul 7, 2011

Im a 23yo NS and I have latent TB, most likely from my overseas exp. Only itch is annual blood draws instead of ppd - a very small itch

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2011

Im a 23yo NS and I have latent TB, most likely from my overseas exp. Only itch is annual blood draws instead of ppd - a very small itch

You do blood draws instead of a chest x-ray?

JOJOba · Jul 7, 2011

You do blood draws instead of a chest x-ray?

cxr only once after initial pos. ppd to rapidly assess latent/active. blood draws annually s/p to maintain.

WDM08002 · Jul 7, 2011

TB is not as scary as it seems, truly. To get an active infection, it requires chronic exposure to somebody or to multiple infected people in very crowded areas, like in a refugee camp. Multiple exposures are required.

Even if you didn't wear a mask when caring for a TB patient for one whole day, you have pretty much no chance of being infected with TB. You would have to care for that patient day after day after day, for weeks.