Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health concern. Although incidence rates are relatively low in the US, cases have increased steadily since 2020. Furthermore, as a global health disease, the US should be concerned about its burden on a worldwide scale. But why should we care?
In this article, we will explore the various methods of TB prevention, including online training, the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, and the role of public health organizations and government agencies in TB control.
Outline
- What Is Tuberculosis?
- What Are the Symptoms of Tuberculosis?
- The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment
- Understanding Tuberculosis and Its Global Impact
- What are the Strategies for Preventing Tuberculosis?
Key Takeaways
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infection of global health concern.
- In 2023, 10.8 million people were diagnosed with TB globally. 1 million of these people have died.
- Tuberculosis is spread exclusively by respiratory droplets and aerosols. It is not spread by sharing cooking utensils, toilets, bed sheets, or clothes.
- TB infection has two stages: an insidious latent stage and an active stage.
- Primary prevention remains the most cost-effective method for reducing the global burden of Tuberculosis. These measures include health education, screening, and vaccination.
- Mass health education can prevent its spread, promote early screening, and encourage vaccine uptake.
What Is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is a chronic and contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs. It is primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a small and slow-growing rod-shaped, acid-fast microorganism. Tuberculosis may occasionally be caused by other closely related groups like Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium microti, or Mycobacterium africanum. Other forms of non-tuberculous mycobacteria include Mycobacterium leprae, which causes leprosy, and Mycobacterium avium complex. In 2023, about 10.8 million people were diagnosed with TB globally. Ten percent of this figure have died from this disease.
How Is Tuberculosis Spread?
Tuberculosis is spread exclusively by respiratory droplets and aerosols. Coughing and other forceful respiratory actions, i.e., singing, release large quantities of microorganisms from people with active infections. Unfortunately, these droplets can remain viable in room air currents for hours. This increases the chance of spread and infection.
Environmental conditions can also worsen the spread. For example, those living in overcrowded and poorly ventilated places have an increased risk of infection. Healthcare providers with prolonged, continued contact with active cases are also at risk. Tuberculosis is not spread by sharing cooking utensils, toilets, bed sheets, or clothes.
What Are the Symptoms of Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis has an insidious onset that often goes undetected. This is called the latent phase. In this phase, tubercles in the lungs are contained by white blood cells. In most cases, these white blood cells are unable to destroy them, but instead contain them for a long time, mostly years.
This latent phase then progresses to an active phase. People with immunosuppression progress to this stage faster than others. At-risk groups include people with HIV/AIDS, diabetes mellitus, cancers, people with organ transplants, and people taking immunosuppressant drugs. Symptoms of the active stage include a chronic cough that increasingly produces copious amounts of sputum, anorexia, weight loss, high sweats, and a low-grade fever.
Extrapulmonary TB is a consequence of these tubercles migrating to other regions in the body: the spine, bones, heart, brain, and skin, causing all sorts of problems.
The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment
Early diagnosis and treatment of TB are essential in preventing the spread of the disease and improving patient outcomes. The standard treatment for TB involves a combination of antibiotics taken for at least six to nine months.
Adhering to the prescribed treatment regimen is crucial to prevent the development of drug-resistant TB, which can be more challenging and costly to treat.
Understanding Tuberculosis and Its Global Impact
Why is Tuberculosis such a concern? Its insidious nature means that a lot of people with the disease go undetected. Not only that, the increase of its spread in overcrowded spaces makes it a disease that disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized.
Currently, the highest burden of Tuberculosis is in Southeast Asia (45%), Africa (24%), and the Western Pacific (17%). The US has one of the lowest TB incidences in the world. However, cases have increased steadily since 2020. In the latest CDC report, overall TB cases are at 9615, an increase of 1295 cases from 2022.
Another concern is the rising prevalence of worldwide antimicrobial resistance. Tuberculosis is no exception. Currently, although multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) makes up just 4% of index cases, its diagnosis and treatment consume a disproportionate amount of resources. It is also responsible for a disproportionate share of economic costs, morbidity, and mortality in people living with tuberculosis and their families.
What Are the Strategies for Preventing Tuberculosis?
The costs of TB prevention and management are huge. The WHO estimates that about $5.7 billion was spent in 2023 alone. This amount is said to be only 26% of the $22 billion target. Primary prevention remains the most cost-effective method for reducing the global burden of Tuberculosis. These methods include:
Health Education
Health education should not be left to healthcare providers alone. It is a public responsibility that requires contributions from employers, employees, community members, interest groups, and policymakers. Mass health education can prevent the spread, promote early screening, and encourage vaccine uptake.
Our Tuberculosis Transmission Prevention course teaches the best practices for tuberculosis prevention. These precautions include the CDC infection control practices required for both standard precautions and airborne precautions. The simplicity of this course makes it an ideal training material for non-clinical employees in most fields.
Vaccination
Vaccination using the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine can help protect against severe forms of TB for those who live in endemic areas. Regular screening for TB, particularly among high-risk populations, can help identify and treat cases early, preventing further transmission. This is done by either a blood test, a skin prick test, or a chest x-ray.
Screening
Screening can reduce incidence rates amongst vulnerable groups. For example, regular screening of the homeless, refugees, and asylum seekers can reduce infection and spread in these groups. Also, clinical workers who care for patients with tuberculosis are at risk and should be offered screening.
Preventing Spread Through Online Education
In conclusion, TB is a highly infectious disease of global concern. Although index cases in the US are low, these cases have increased steadily since the COVID pandemic. Furthermore, increasing globalization makes TB a cause of concern here in the US. Primary prevention through health education, screening, and vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent tuberculosis. Health education is a responsibility for all, not just health workers. Our Tuberculosis Transmission Prevention course is suitable for anyone, including non-clinical staff. Head to our website to get started today!
