TB Positive

OCD_Mom · Sep 3, 2009

I hear it is really really common...Hang in there. Big Hugs

elkpark · Sep 3, 2009

I went through the same process when I started nursing school (long, long ago :)). I had been running a soup kitchen and working with street people before entering nursing school, so it wasn't any big surprise that my Mantoux test "turned" (positive, that is). It doesn't mean you have TB, or will ever have TB -- it just means you've been exposed.

In my case, I had a tense couple days when the initial CXR showed a suspicious area on one lung that eventually, under flouoroscopy, turned out to be nipple shadow. I had to "turn myself in" to the local public health department, was told I had to do a full year of INH (even though I did my best to talk my way out of it :)), and had to show up for the monthly TB clinic at the health department throughout my entire first year of nursing school. I had no side effects or negative effects from the INH, and the entire experience ended up being not bad at all -- sort of like a private tutorial in public health nursing (which my fellow students didn't get!) "TB clinic" at the health department each month was always me and a bunch of Haitians (that patois that they speak is the most beautiful, musical language ...) -- literally, there was never anyone else there the entire year but Haitians (don't know what that was about) -- and the PH nurses at the clinic loved me because I was a nursing student, and I actually took my meds and showed up when I was supposed to (unlike the vast majority of their clients, apparently). All the medication was provided to me at no cost; all I had to do was show up once a month and chat with the nurses.

In the long run, it was no big deal and I learned a lot more about infectious disease (TB, specifically) and public health nursing than I would have otherwise! :) The other "plus" is -- no more Mantoux tests, ever! :)

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Sep 3, 2009

I had a positive ppd and did 9 months of INH, too. This was in nursing school in 2001.

TessaMae · Sep 3, 2009

I had a positive skin test, had a chest x-ray that was clear and my PS and I weighed the pros and cons and I decided not to go on the antibiotics. The side effects were too severe in my opinion and you have to take them exactly as directed for 9 months...Was not for me. My reaction was 12, so not severe, and I have since had 2 negative ppd's that have backed up that the initial was most likely a false positive. I know this might not work out for everyone but there is also a TB blood test quantiFERON-gold as an option to see if the result was a false positive. The CDC website has lots of good info about this.

So I recently had my yearly TB skin test and came back positive. I've worked in the hospital for years and it's very possible I've been exposed to a TB pt on numerous occasions. I went to the doctor and now I'm going to be on INH for 9 months. How many of ya'll out there have gone through this?
thanks

Snwbdr · Sep 4, 2009

I had 6 months of INH therapy....it wasn't complicated or anything....just couldn't really drink (too much) and couldn't eat some foods, like pickled herring (or some other junk I would never NEVER even consider eating anyways)....

TessaMae · Sep 4, 2009

Severe and sometimes fatal hepatitis may occur during and many months after treatment. I know someone who tested positive for hepatitis during treatment and ended up with some permanent problems afterwards. PLus with this antibiotic you really have to take it as ordered which is easier said than done when taking it for 9 months.

I had 6 months of INH therapy....it wasn't complicated or anything....just couldn't really drink (too much) and couldn't eat some foods, like pickled herring (or some other junk I would never NEVER even consider eating anyways)....

Scooter321 · Sep 4, 2009

My experience was very similar to ellpark's, except that my chest x-ray was clear. The nine months of INH was no problem for me, and I did not have any side effects. I looked forward to my monthly trip to the clinic because the nurse was awesome, and we would sit and chat (I was usually the only one there). She knew I was trying to get into NS and was attending the CC to do my EMT training at the time. Winter was coming, and she lives near the college. She gave me her home and cell number and told me to call if ever I got stuck/stranded or just didn't want to drive through a snow storm. She said I could stay with her, overnight if necessary. How cool is that? Okay, I'm rambling now. LOL!

Bottom line is, chances are you have nothing to worry about, and it will be no big deal. :twocents:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2009

I had to do a year of INH - CT scan showed granulomas in multiple organs. I had always been PPD positive since childhood, but my CXR had shown a change.

There were no active signs of TB and the Bronch cultures were negative. We later found that the granulomas were probably from a systemic infection from a wild animal bite. But I also had lived in an area w/high TB rates and been to central Africa.

The INH was okay, but I had to watch my red wine intake and you do have to have regular blood work for LFTs.