Nosocomial tuberculosis: new progress in control and prevention. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Click here to return to AIDSLINE main menu
DonateNow
Print this Article


Nosocomial tuberculosis: new progress in control and prevention.

Clin Infect Dis. 1995 Sep;21(3):489-505. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96077363
McGowan JE Jr; Department of Pathology, Emory University School of; Medicine/Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30335, USA.

Abstract: Nosocomial cases of tuberculosis have affected both health care workers and hospitalized patients, and each group has transmitted the infection to the other. This situation has been exacerbated by increases in the number of patients concurrently infected with human immunodeficiency virus and organisms resistant to multiple drugs; by inadequate implementation of procedures for the recognition, isolation, and treatment of patients with tuberculosis in health care and correctional facilities; and by a lack of practical engineering interventions for the control of airborne transmission. Epidemics at several hospitals have been controlled by the implementation of multiple measures listed in recent federal guidelines. Rapid recognition of cases and their effective isolation should be a priority at public hospitals, which can least afford the expensive engineering changes and personal respirators that are now mandated. Lacking are data on engineering controls (especially for retrofitting of existing facilities) and requirements for mask use that are both effective and financially practical. If relevant programs are to be developed, new methods are needed for the direct measurement of airborne transmission of tuberculosis. Fortunately, new federal guidelines allow individual hospitals and health care systems the flexibility to assess likely risk and to act in accordance with their findings to develop system-wide control programs.
Keywords: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/PREVENTION & CONTROL Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) Community-Acquired Infections/PREVENTION & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION Cross Infection/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION Drug Resistance, Multiple Hospitals, Special Human HIV Infections/COMPLICATIONS Mycobacterium tuberculosis/DRUG EFFECTS Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/COMPLICATIONS/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/ TRANSMISSION United States JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW, ACADEMICKWDaids-relatedopportunisticinfections/prevention&controlcentersfordiseasecontrolandprevention(uKWDsKWD)community-acquiredinfections/prevention&control/transmissioncrossinfection/KWDprevention&control/transmissiondrugresistance,multiplehospitals,specialhumanhivinfections/complicationsmycobacteriumtuberculosis/drugeffectstuberculosis,pulmonary/complications/KWDprevention&control/transmissionunitedstatesjournalarticlereviewreview,academic
960430
M9640838

Copyright © 1996 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1996. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1996. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .