Positive tb and new employment

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Hi all,

I am very worried. I was tested positive for TB 2 years ago through skin test. I also took the medication for 9 months. Now i got a job offer which require me to show my xray. I won't get the results back until friday. Also, i have started to cough persistently for 1-2 weeks now, though i think it's because i kept eating junk food.

I was wondering if my CXR did come out as positive, will the employers simply terminate my offer or do you think they will delay my start date? I am sooo scared!

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Have you been exposed to TB? I would speak to your MD about the risks. Usually, the facility has some policies on positive TB via a chest x-ray.

Best wishes!

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I am not sure if i have ever been in contact to tb. It was latent TB. I did however lived in pakistan, which apparently has a high risk of TB. In addition, i was vaccinated with BCG when i was born (22 years ago). I have job offer at hospital so i am sure the policies are strict.

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I live in Canada and I was wondering if I am allowed to ask for my results at the place where I took my CXR, instead of waiting for them to fax the results to my family doctor because my next appointment with the doctor is Friday.

Sorry I am being paranoid :|

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

We can not really answer what the employer will or will not do. Results will go back to the doctor who ordered them, you will have to wait until Friday which is tomorrow, so not that long now.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Did you do the antibiotic treatment because of the positive PPD? Or did you test positive for LTBI after the PPD? Because the BCG will likely always cause a "false positive" PPD. You should only do CXR or blood test (like Quantiferon) for future TB screening.

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I took the medication because of my positive skin test. My doctor said it was not an active TB.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I took the medication because of my positive skin test. My doctor said it was not an active TB.

Right, but you can't diagnose LTBI (latent TB infection) on a positive skin test, if you've received BCG. If you've had the BCG vaccine, then you will have a positive skin test, even if you do not have LTBI.

Be that as it may, if you have no new risk factors since you did the antibiotic treatment (travel outside the country, living with someone who has an active infection, time spent in jail or homeless shelter), then the likelihood that you have been reinfected is very slim.

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Thank you Klone! I don't think my doctor knew I had BCG vaccine. Hell, I did not even know until I checked my health immunization few days ago...

And coincidentally, i've been coughing a lot lately, which makes me more worried. :(

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

It sound like you are going into hypochondria over it.

I bet your chest xray will be clean and you will be ok. I do the same exact thing over mt TB test every year. :yes: :up:

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

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Follow up with your PCP and employee health at the facility you applied to. The CDC has a plethora of information for you........CDC | TB | Testing & Diagnosis

We wish you the best....thread closed

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