Tuberculosis

• Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is spread through airborne droplets.
• Classification of TB

  • Primary: person gets initial infection
  • Active (CAN TRANSMIT)
  • Primary active: person has symptoms of TB within 2 yrs of primary infection
  • Reactivation TB: symptoms occur after 2 years of primary infection
  • Latent: person has TB, shows no symptoms until immunocompromised but test will show positive. THEY NEED TO GET TREATED
• Signs of TB include dry productive cough, fever, dyspnea, hemoptysis, weight loss, night sweats, fatigue, crackles, and pain
• It takes 2 to 3 weeks for TB symptoms to show
• Diagnostic Studies for TB

  • PPD: person gets injected with 0.1mL of PPD ID
  • The PPD is then inspected in 48-72 hours and if it is >5mm person is positive
  • Other tests are Quantiferon Gold, TB culture
• Interprofessional Care for TB Patients

  • Oral hygiene
  • Airborne isolation in a negative pressure room
  • N95 mask
  • HC provider should not be in patient's room longer than 20 minutes
• Drug Therapy for TB

  • Rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol for the first 8 weeks
  • Rifampin and isoniazid for the next 18 weeks
  • SE's is hepatitis (gray stools, dark colored urine, abdominal pain, decreased appetite)
  • Monitor liver function