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Beware of TB transmission in healthcare facilities

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, December 22, 2006

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Transmission of infectious tuberculosis is a recognized risk to both patients and workers in healthcare facilities.

To reduce the risk of healthcare workers acquiring serious TB infections, multiple steps must be taken, according to the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

At a minimum, the following steps should be taken:

• Conduct periodic training of healthcare workers to enhance awareness of the symptoms and signs of TB and to maintain an appropriate index of suspicion for new TB cases
• Evaluate and manage patients likely to have undiagnosed TB, in emergency, ambulatory, and inpatient settings
• Require masks for patients with suspected TB prior to the initiation of effective therapy when the patients are in uncontrolled areas of the facility

Editor's note: The above excerpt is from the online course, "TB Awareness for Nurses: Vital and Practical Steps to Protect Staff and Patients." For more information on this and other courses in our library, go to http://www.hcprofessor.com/.

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