TB testing 2020, good riddance?

Published

CDC has removed its recommendation for annual TB testing of healthcare staff. Some states still may require it however. I'm curious, what is your facilities current policy going in to 2020?

https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20190522tbguidelineupdt.html

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/infectioncontrol/default.htm

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

WOOHOO!!!

I actually haven't been tested in three years. I guess the district doesn't want the news. One of my favorite bosses in TB world used to say "A decision to test is a decision to treat." And we ended up treating a lot of folks who got their TB (if it was a real positive and not a BCG reaction thing) not in the healthcare environs.

Although if I was changing jobs I'd want me a baseline just in case....

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

the only time I needed one was for nursing school. I think the one I had for nursing school was good enough for employment. havent had one in 7 years

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Haven't had them in years. Only units with high risk of coming into contact or those with exposure to a patient later confirmed positive get tested where I work.

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I had heard about the CDCs new guidelines and sent it to our infection control dept (although I probably should have sent it to the employee health dept) at our hospital. We still have to do it every year. My husband works as a customer service rep at a DME (so he works in the office all day) and they make them get a tb skin test yearly also. Seems ridiculous to me.

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we test every 6 months...

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Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

We usually test annually but this year I was told there was a shortage of the tuberculin, so those not working in high risk areas were deferred. Very interesting that it’s not recommended anymore.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I haven't been screened in close to ten years.

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29 minutes ago, MunoRN said:

I haven't been screened in close to ten years.

Just curious- what is your work setting? (Hospital, home health, etc)

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Specializes in Critical Care.
1 hour ago, old&improved said:

Just curious- what is your work setting? (Hospital, home health, etc)

Hospital, mainly critical care and ED during that time.

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.
On 11/8/2019 at 6:52 PM, harvestmoon said:

we test every 6 months...

Do you have an extraordinarily high exposure?

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Definitely more than the other clinics but I still think it is overkill...

we get a choice between TB Gold and subcu+48hr and I do TBGold every time.

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