Should I get checked for TB?

[AStudentNurse]

Hey all! This is probably a silly question to ask but I just want to put my mind at ease.

Last week I was volunteering at a hospital for clinical experience. I walked in a room to check on a new patient without realizing he was on airborne precautions for TB or possible TB (I was told later he was in a ventilation room, so I'm guessing he had active TB?) I was a few feet away from him and I was in there for only a few brief moments. He talked to me but did not cough at the time I was there.

Should I be worried about this? I don't have any symptoms that I know of. I did wake up with a dry cough this morning but I'm guessing it's because of the cold weather? I had my PPD taken about 5 months ago; should I get it rechecked again immediately or can I wait?

Thanks in advance for your help! :)

[diane227, LPN, RN]

He may or may not have had active TB. Often we put these patients in a negative air flow room as a precaution until TB can be ruled out. I am surprised that the hospital did not make you have a TB skin test when you began to volunteer there. In all hospitals annual TB skin testing is required and in some areas where there are a lot of TB cases, TB testing is required more frequently for the staff. When I worked in Houston in a large inner city trauma center, we tested twice a year. Your chances of getting TB from one brief exposure are very low.