TB question..

allnurses Guide · Mar 15, 2007

Hopefull2009 said:
I found out today that I am on the alt list for my nursing school. So I have to go through the entire physical, TB tests, etc.
Please someone correct me now if I am wrong....
I have heard people are TB carriers and don't even know it. It seems like I read somewhere on these boards that a student tested positive for TB (and she wasn't even sick), and she was worried that she might not get to start her clinicals until she completed 6 weeks of antibiotics to get a neg TB test.
I have never taken a TB test...I just want to make sure to allow plenty of time in case in comes up positive, that I have time to correct the situation before school starts this Fall.
Thanks!

The TB test most commonly used is the PPD test given as an intradermal shot on the inside of your forearm. If it were to come up positive you would more than likely be scheduled for a chest x-ray to rule out active TB. The worst that would happen in most cases is that you would have to take TB meds for several months and then get a yearly chest x-ray. Unless you have previously worked in healthcare, been in prison or other areas where TB is highly prevelant your chances of testing positive for TB are pretty low. Testing postive for TB doesn't prevent you from going to nursing school as long as you have either been cleared by a medical provider &/or taken/taking your prescribed TB meds.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2007

One of the things we nurses have to go through every six months or yearly (depending on the rules where you work) is getting a TB skin test. And, as a nurse, you'll be learning to administer this test to others as well. If your test turns out to be positive it only indicates that at some point in your lifetime some TB bacteria did enter your body. That's all this test measures. It doesn't mean that you have TB. To determine if someone has TB other tests are done. The TB skin test is a cheap screening test is all. If your skin test happens to turn out positive you will be asked to get a chest x-ray to rule out that there is any TB in your lungs. From then on you will be told to say you are a positive reactor to the PPD, or Mantoux, skin test. That means that you should never get another TB skin test because you know it is going to indicate positive results. However, you will probably need to have yearly chest x-rays in place of the skin test if yearly TB screening is required where you end up working.

It is highly unlikely to have TB in today's world even if you have been around someone who has it. The people who have TB these days are drug addicts and those who are HIV+ who were unfortunate enough to pick it up--people whose health and immune systems are in a poor or compromised state. If you are a healthy person with a healthy immune system, the likelihood of contracting TB, even if you have been exposed to it, is pretty minimal. The prophylactic treatment for TB is a course of various medications taken over the span of a year's period of time if it even gets to that point. The lab tests to prove the presence of TB take several weeks to confirm the disease.

bhudz · Apr 16, 2007

We should always take good care because in my own experience, I got TB for no reason at all. I haven't been exposed to the person who has TB, We don't have a history of TB in the family, and more surprisingly, No sign and symptoms... I just known that I am already positive when I vomited blood.

My question also is that, In the Xray result, they're saying that I am positive but the result of the Sputum is negative. I had the xray thrice and also sputum. same findings...

oMerMero · Apr 16, 2007

bhudz said:
We should always take good care because in my own experience, I got TB for no reason at all. I haven't been exposed to the person who has TB, We don't have a history of TB in the family, and more surprisingly, No sign and symptoms... I just known that I am already positive when I vomited blood.
My question also is that, In the Xray result, they're saying that I am positive but the result of the Sputum is negative. I had the xray thrice and also sputum. same findings...

I think you should speak with your doctor about this.

bhudz · Apr 17, 2007

On 4/16/2007 at 10:47 AM, bhudz said:
We should always take good care because in my own experience, I got TB for no reason at all. I haven't been exposed to the person who has TB, We don't have a history of TB in the family, and more surprisingly, No sign and symptoms... I just known that I am already positive when I vomited blood.
My question also is that, In the Xray result, they're saying that I am positive but the result of the Sputum is negative. I had the xray thrice and also sputum. same findings...

I think you should speak with your doctor about this

My doctor didn't explain to me why is that my Xray is positive but I have a negative sputum result. she just gave me an antiobiotic which is i'm taking until 6 mos.

By the way, thanks!