HOSPITAL INFECTION-CONTROL PRACTICES FOR TUBERCULOSIS

Transmission of M. tuberculosis is a recognized risk to patients and h ealthcare workers in health-care facilities. Transmission is most Like ly to occur from patients who have unrecognized pulmonary or laryngeal tuberculosis, are not on effective antituberculosis therapy, and have not been placed in isolation. Several recent tuberculosis outbreaks i n health-care facilities, including outbreaks of multidrug-resistant t uberculosis, have heightened concern over nosocomial transmission. The primary goals for an effective tuberculosis infection control plan ar e early identification, isolation, and effective treatment of persons who have active tuberculosis. Although completely eliminating the risk for transmission of M. tuberculosis in all health-care facilities may not be possible at the present time, adherence to certain fundamental tuberculosis infection control measures should reduce the risk to per sons in these settings.