Tuberculosis (TB)
Prevention
Avoid getting active TB
Active
tuberculosis
(TB) is an infection that is spreading in
a person's body, and it is very contagious.
The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that one-third of the world's population is
infected with the bacteria that causes TB. To avoid
getting an active TB infection:
- Do not spend long periods of time in stuffy,
enclosed rooms with anyone who has active TB until that person has been treated
for at least 2 weeks.
- Use protective measures, such as face masks,
if you work in a facility that cares for people who have untreated
TB.
- If you live with someone who has active TB, help and encourage
the person to follow treatment instructions.
Prevent latent TB from becoming active
Usually,
treatment with isoniazid for about 9 months or rifampin for 4 months can
prevent a latent TB infection from developing into active TB. Treatment is
recommended for anyone with a skin test that shows a TB infection, and is
especially important for people who:
- Are known to or are likely to be infected
with the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
.
- Have
close contact with a person who has active TB.
- Have a chest X-ray
that suggests a TB infection, and have not had a complete course of
treatment.
- Inject illegal drugs.
- Have a medical
condition or take medicines that
weaken the immune system
.
- Have had a
tuberculin skin test within the past 2 years that did not show a TB infection
but now a new test indicates an infection.
Can the TB vaccine help?
A TB vaccine (
bacille Calmette-Guerin
, or BCG) is used in many
countries to prevent TB. But this vaccination is almost never used in the
United States because:
- The risk of getting TB is low in the
U.S.
- The vaccine is not effective in adults who receive
it.
- The BCG vaccine may cause a tuberculin skin test to indicate a
TB infection even if a person is not infected with TB. This complicates the use
of the tuberculin skin test to check people for TB.
Last Updated:April 23, 2009
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