Commonly referred to as: TB Prevention for the Healthcare Worker

TB Prevention

Table of Contents:

• Prevention of Tuberculosis Spread and Transmission
• Legal Notice
• Purpose of Course
• Learning Objectives
• Target Audience
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
• How is TB Spread?
• TB Infection
• Risk of Active TB
• CDC Infection-Control Practices
• Infection Control Practices
• Environmental Factors
• Critical Risk for TB transmission to HCWs
• Administrative Controls
• Environmental Controls
• Respiratory Protection Controls
• Risk Classification Examples of Settings
• TB Screening for Settings Classified at Low Risk
• TB Screening for Settings Classified at Moderate Risk
• TB Screening for Settings Classified as Potential Ongoing Transmission
• CDC Airborne Precautions
• End of Course Exam

Course Content Example 1:

What is Tuberculosis (TB)?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines Tuberculosis (TB) to be "a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis."

TB is spread from person to person through the air.

Course Content Example 2:

TB Infection

• Once infected, people's immune systems become involved Immune system may be able to contain the infection, but not able to eliminate the infection without help from anti-TB drugs
• These people have latent TB infection (LTBI) and remain infected until corrective treatment is completed
• LTBI does not cause symptoms and is not contagious
• Without treatment, infected people can lose control of infection and develop active clinical disease
• People with active TB have symptoms and can spread disease

Course Content Example 3:

Risk of Active TB

Risk of developing Active TB is greatest in first five years after infection, but some risk remains throughout life.

TB is preventable and mostly treatable. Prevention of transmission and further spread of TB in the health care settings can be managed through the use of infection control practices.