Mycobacterium (genus) Tuberculosis (species) is a bacteria that causes the disease tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is an acute or chronic disease of the lower respiratory tract. It is contagious and easily spread through the air from person to person therefore requiring airborne precautions. If someone with TB coughs, sneezes, or talks, the bacteria will spread throughout the air and inhaled by other people.
People may have either a latent TB infection or TB disease. Latent TB is when the bacteria is in the body, but is not active therefore the carrier is not showing any signs or symptoms of the disease. At this point, the TB is not contagious and the person may not even be aware of their condition. However as the bacteria becomes active in the …show more content…
In order to find out if someone has been infected with TB they may get either a skin test or a blood test. Since positive results only tell that they have been exposed to the bacteria, they must next need to get a chest x-ray or AFB sputum specimen to tell whether the TB is latent or has progressed to the disease. If patients are diagnosed with the disease, they are prescribed an amount of drugs. "New cases are initially treated with four drugs: isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and either ethambutol or streptomycin. After 2 months, they are then treated with a continuation phase of 4 months with isoniazid and rifampin.” (Herchline, 2015, para.2) The drugs must be used regularly for the amount of time prescribed. The patient must be informed exactly how to take the medication and to completely finish the amount prescribed. It is important to inform them that if they stop the medication too soon, the remainder pathogens may replicate becoming stronger; making the patient sick …show more content…
As a health care provider, it is especially important that I am educated on TB and how to care for someone with TB because I still may have a risk of coming in contact with it. Just a few things we must know is that TB requires airborne precautions and that a N95 mask must be used for anyone entering the room, and negative air pressure in the room must be maintained. TB is not as common as it was a long time ago with only 9,412 new cases reported in 2014 (2.2% decrease since 2013), (Scott, 2015, para.1) however we must still be cautious as we still have a chance in coming into contact with
People may have either a latent TB infection or TB disease. Latent TB is when the bacteria is in the body, but is not active therefore the carrier is not showing any signs or symptoms of the disease. At this point, the TB is not contagious and the person may not even be aware of their condition. However as the bacteria becomes active in the …show more content…
In order to find out if someone has been infected with TB they may get either a skin test or a blood test. Since positive results only tell that they have been exposed to the bacteria, they must next need to get a chest x-ray or AFB sputum specimen to tell whether the TB is latent or has progressed to the disease. If patients are diagnosed with the disease, they are prescribed an amount of drugs. "New cases are initially treated with four drugs: isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and either ethambutol or streptomycin. After 2 months, they are then treated with a continuation phase of 4 months with isoniazid and rifampin.” (Herchline, 2015, para.2) The drugs must be used regularly for the amount of time prescribed. The patient must be informed exactly how to take the medication and to completely finish the amount prescribed. It is important to inform them that if they stop the medication too soon, the remainder pathogens may replicate becoming stronger; making the patient sick …show more content…
As a health care provider, it is especially important that I am educated on TB and how to care for someone with TB because I still may have a risk of coming in contact with it. Just a few things we must know is that TB requires airborne precautions and that a N95 mask must be used for anyone entering the room, and negative air pressure in the room must be maintained. TB is not as common as it was a long time ago with only 9,412 new cases reported in 2014 (2.2% decrease since 2013), (Scott, 2015, para.1) however we must still be cautious as we still have a chance in coming into contact with