Avoiding Tuberculosis Spread: Strategies for Prevention
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), and it is crucial to understand how it spreads and how to prevent its transmission.
Firstly, it is essential to note that M. tuberculosis usually transmits from the lungs and throat, not from other locations such as the spine or kidneys. Transmission occurs when a person with active symptoms, such as coughing, is present. A person with active TB disease can spread the bacteria through coughing, sneezing, singing, speaking, yelling, laughing, or playing a wind instrument.
However, a person cannot become infected with TB through contact, such as handshakes, shared dishes, toilet seats, or faucets. To prevent transmission, a person with active TB disease should maintain physical distancing from others.
People with latent TB cannot spread the bacteria to others. Nevertheless, anyone with exposure to TB bacteria can develop TB disease, but certain people are more likely to get sick sooner. These include children under 5 years old, older adults, people who have had a TB infection in the last 2 years, those who use injectable illegal drugs, people who have received incomplete TB treatment in the past, those with low body weight, people receiving immunosuppressant therapy, low-income or medically underserved populations, those who have had intestinal bypass or gastrectomy surgery, people who drink large quantities of alcohol, people with certain medical conditions such as HIV, diabetes, certain cancers, chronic renal failure, silicosis, and people who have had pulmonary TB in the past.
TB infection is a reportable disease by law, and suspected or confirmed cases should be reported to the designated department or official. Employers in high-risk settings, such as healthcare, can maintain a TB prevention program and support the timely identification of people who carry the TB bacteria.
TB testing can identify latent TB, allowing prompt treatment and potentially preventing progression to active disease. Household contacts of a person with active TB may require preventive treatment and screening.
In some cases, TB screening can be complicated by the BCG vaccine. BCG vaccination is rare in the U.S. but common in many countries with high TB prevalence. Some immigrants and travelers to the U.S. may have been vaccinated with BCG. Because of this potential for false-positive TB skin tests, interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs, or TB blood tests) are preferred for testing in persons who have received the BCG vaccine. Unlike the skin test, these blood tests are not affected by prior BCG vaccination and have higher specificity for TB infection, making them the recommended diagnostic method in this group in the U.S.
To reduce the amount of bacteria in the air, a person with active TB disease can wear a mask, ventilate rooms, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and use HEPA filters. Upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lamps may also kill or inactivate airborne TB bacteria, reducing the risk of infection in people in the room, particularly in healthcare settings. However, UV light can damage the skin and eyes, so lamps should be installed out of sight in HVAC systems or high up in a room, and technicians who service the lights should wear protective equipment.
Lastly, it is important to note that UV air purifiers can emit ozone, which may cause breathing difficulties. The California Air Resources Board has a list of electronic air cleaners that test found to emit less than 0.05 parts per million of ozone.
In conclusion, understanding how TB spreads and taking preventative measures is crucial in controlling its transmission. While BCG vaccination can complicate TB screening, TB blood tests are favored in this population in the U.S. to avoid false-positive interpretations. Proper ventilation, mask-wearing, and the use of UVGI lamps can also help reduce the spread of TB in high-risk settings.
- Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease impacting the system, specifically the lungs and throat.
- The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is responsible for causing TB.
- A person with active TB symptoms, like coughing, can spread the TB bacteria through various activities such as coughing, sneezing, singing, and speaking.
- Transmission of TB does not occur through contact like handshakes, shared dishes, toilet seats, or faucets.
- To prevent TB transmission, a person with active TB disease should maintain physical distancing from others.
- People with latent TB cannot spread the bacteria to others, but they can develop TB disease if they have been exposed to the bacteria.
- certain people are more at risk of getting sick sooner, such as children under 5, older adults, and those with suppressed immune systems.
- TB infection is a reportable disease by law, and suspected or confirmed cases should be reported.
- Employers in high-risk settings, such as healthcare, should have a TB prevention program in place to identify people carrying the TB bacteria.
- TB testing can identify latent TB and help prevent progression to active disease.
- Household contacts of a person with active TB may require preventive treatment and screening.
- BCG vaccination is a concern in TB screening due to the possibility of false-positive results.
- To avoid false positives in the BCG-vaccinated population, interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs, or TB blood tests) are recommended.
- Proper ventilation, mask-wearing, and the use of UVGI lamps can help reduce the spread of TB in high-risk settings.
- A person with active TB disease can wear a mask, ventilate rooms, and use HEPA filters to reduce the amount of bacteria in the air.
- Upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lamps may kill or inactivate airborne TB bacteria.
- UV light can damage the skin and eyes, so UVGI lamps should be placed out of sight or high up in a room.
- Technicians who service UVGI lamps should wear protective equipment.
- UV air purifiers can emit ozone, which may cause breathing difficulties.
- The California Air Resources Board has a list of electronic air cleaners with low ozone emissions.
- Taking preventative measures, understanding TB transmission, and utilizing recommended diagnostic methods can help control the spread of TB.
- Skin-care should consider the potential interactions with TB screening results after BCG vaccination.
- Finance, personal and business, should account for the potential medical costs related to TB diagnosis and treatment.
- Data and cloud computing can contribute to understanding TB transmission patterns and the effectiveness of preventative measures.
- Technology, including UVGI lamps, can aid in reducing the spread of TB in high-risk settings.
- Mental health is an essential aspect of health-and-wellness, as the fear of TB and its impact on relationships can contribute to anxiety or stress.
- Fitness-and-exercise is a crucial component of overall health, as a strong immune system can help protect against TB and other chronic diseases.
- Eye-health should be prioritized, as TB can cause complications and damage to the eyes in some cases.
- Hearing loss can be a complication of TB in rare cases, so maintaining hearing health is important in managing TB and other health-related issues.
- Fashion-and-beauty should consider the potential interacting ingredients in skincare products and makeup related to TB.
- In managing TB and promoting health-and-wellness, it is essential to consider factors such as lifestyle choices, self-development, personal growth, education, responsible consumption, and social media usage.
