tuberculosis

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Hello! I am trying to study for my hesi for med surg and I was just wondering if anyone knows if someone came in with a suspected TB infection would you put them on isolation first or would you get a sputum culture first? For some reason this question is driving me nuts!! THANKS!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

In the real world.....isolate first until 3 neg AFb sputums.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Yup, isolate. You wouldn't want them with universal precautions only to find out they have + AFB cultures, which means you and a lot of other people have just been possibly exposed to TB.

Also, at some facilities, AFB cultures are a "send out" meaning they aren't done in the lab at the hospital. Because of this, sometimes it takes more time for the AFB culture results to come back.

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Specializes in ER trauma, ICU - trauma, neuro surgical.

Anything that is being "ruling out" is automatic isolation, until proven otherwise. It's better to isolate them first. Remember, isolation means "precaution," with focus on the "pre-."

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Isolate first until proven otherwise. Skin testing and CXR will follow. If diagnosed with TB then it is 3 negative sputum cultures until they are considered noncontagious (after an extensive round of medications, wearing masks, etc.). Keep in mind to tell patient that once they have been exposed to TB they skin tests will shown positive from then on, even though they may not have an active infection

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