Tuberculosis is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Inhaling contaminated air can lead to infection. Certain groups like those with weak immune systems are at higher risk. Prevention focuses on early detection, isolation, and treatment of infected patients to control transmission in healthcare facilities and other settings. Occupational guidelines help protect workers through measures like negative pressure isolation rooms, respiratory protection, and skin testing of employees.

1. Tuberculosis
Prevention

2. Tuberculosis
o TB is a disease-causing
microorganism that is passed
from person to person through the
air.

3. Tuberculosis is a serious health threat
o When an infected person sneezes, coughs, speaks, or
even sings, tiny microorganisms are released into the air.
o By inhaling this contaminated air, you may become
infected.

4. Tuberculosis is a serious health threat
o Transmission of TB is a recognized risk to patients and
associates in healthcare facilities.
o Certain groups have a greater risk of developing TB.
These are:
• People who have weak immune systems
• People who have close contact with patients already
suffering with TB.

5. TB Prevention
o The most important steps in preventing TB transmission
are:
• Early detection of patients who may have infectious TB
• Prompt application of TB isolation precautions
• Prompt initiation of effective treatment

6. Taking steps to keep TB under
control
o Engineering controls:
• Isolation room is maintained under negative pressure with
the doors closed at all times except when entering or
exiting.
• The negative pressure is checked daily when the room is in
use for airborne isolation.
• Air changes per hour in the isolation room meet regulatory
code requirements.
• The air in the isolation room is not re-circulated into the
general ventilation and is exhausted outside.
• Ultra violet lights are in the isolation rooms.

7. Taking steps to keep TB under
control
o Respiratory Protection:
• Personal respiratory protection is used by:
o All persons entering a room with airborne precautions.
o Persons present during cough-inducing or aerosol-generating
procedures on patients suspected or confirmed of having TB.
o Persons in other settings where engineering controls are not
likely to protect them from inhaling infectious airborne droplet
nuclei (emergency transport vehicles).

8. TB and OSHA Guidelines
o The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has developed guidelines that employers must
follow to keep TB from spreading in the workplace.

9. You should be skin tested for TB if
you:
o Show any symptoms of TB
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Cough (for longer than 2 weeks)
• Fever and night sweats
• Loss of appetite
o Are in a high-risk group

10. Associate TB Skin Testing
o All associates receive a TB skin test:
• Upon hire (except those with documented proof of a
negative TB skin test within the last thirty days and a
documented negative within one year before that),
• Annually during their month of hire,
• In accordance to the facility risk assessment for TB.

11. Associate TB Skin Testing
o All associates have an Associate TB Skin Test Card
maintained in the Associate Health Office.
o TB skin testing and reading are performed by an
Associate Health nurse.

12. Associate TB Skin Testing
o If the Associate does not have the TB skin test or TB
history done during their anniversary month, a delinquent
list will be sent to the manager and the department’s
administrative representative.
o The manager will remove the associate from the
schedule until the TB skin test or TB history is completed.
o The associate is not allowed to utilize accumulated time
for hours missed.