Questions about possible TB exposure-

kathy_79 · Nov 6, 2004

first, he should be in isolation room. you need to wear mask each time you have a contact with your pt. this is airborne droplet transmission, prolonge exposure leads to infection. from infection to show signs of tb reaction, it takes about 2-10 weeks. it does not mean you have infection, you need to follow with your md. we had one pt on our icu last summer, they suspect tb but it took 5 weeks before they pt him on isolation. i use precaution because i do not want to get anything from my pt and also having small baby make me more awear what i need to pey attention to.

good luck, i hope you are fine, :)

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2004

I understand that the above is true for active TB, but what about "non-infectious" TB?

Nurse Ratched, RN · Nov 7, 2004

Do you mean latent TB? "Latent TB" is non-infectious - meaning he has the germ in his body, but isn't sick from it. Such a patient does not require respiratory isolation as he is neither sick nor infectious (unless it becomes active.) It's essentially the same as being a positive PPD reactor.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2004

Thanks, Nurse Rached!

I'll do a search on Latent TB.

Since this pt is HIV +, he is very likely to develop active, TB, correct? How often should he be tested to see if this has happened?

Nurse Ratched, RN · Nov 7, 2004

If he has weakened immunity from the HIV and is coughing, I presume a chest xray has been done recently to rule out active (altho technically it can disseminate to any part of the body - pulmonary TB is just the most commonly recognized kind.)

Glad to help - learned way more than I ever thought possible about TB in my current job lol.

Jamesdotter · Nov 7, 2004

We have a pt in our hemo unit who we just found out is HIV+ and TB+.
We have no facilities for respiratory isolation, and this pt is dialyzed w/ the general population. My boss told me that the CDC is aware of this pt and that he has "non-infectious" TB, so there is nothing to worry about.
Well, he coughed near my face today- a really big, deep cough.
Do I need to be concerned? Do I need to take action? What exactly is non-fectious TB, QUOTE]
They probably means he has a negative sputum (you might want to check and see if he really does). Back in the days--long ago and far away--when I was a student, we did a rotation in a TB hospital. Patients with negative sputums were treated like the general population in our main hospital. However, now that so many TB pts are drug-resistant, I can see why you are concerned.