In: Anatomy and Physiology
During natural disasters like hurricanes when the community is living in shelters, why would there be a concern about a tuberculosis outbreak? what circumstances have led to the spread of drug resistant tuberculosis? Mary, a nurse, skin test was positive for tuberculosis. Does this mean she has tuberculosis? explain
— In case of natural disasters there will be mass evacuations and in this case the continuity of treatment of TB patients becomes very difficult.
If the TB patient stop taking the drugs too soon or does not take correctly , the TB bacteria are still alive and may become resistant to drugs and may spread to other people as it is air borne leading to an outbreak .
—crowding ,poor ventilation and poor infection control practices in health facilities lead to the spread of drug resistant tuberculosis.
— skin test positive indicates that the tuberculosis bacteria has entered the nurse's body. However it doesn't necessarily mean that she is a active tuberculosis patient .
Whether or not she has tuberculosis can only be confirmed after chest X-ray and sputum examination.
However it has to be immediately notified to the health care provider and should start antituberculosis medications and should be isolated immediately.