TUBERCULOSIS CASE STUDY

●BY:
●Richel Amaning,Adelaide owusu barimah,Eunice Owusu Prempeh,Meldy
Hack,Cecilia Okyere
INFECTIOUS AGENT/DISEASE
● Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb)
discovered by Robert Koch in 1882, which is transmitted between humans through the
respiratory route and most commonly affects the lungs, but can damage any tissue.

● Only about 10 percent of individuals infected with Mtb progress to active TB disease within
their lifetime; the remainder of persons infected successfully contain their infection. One of
the challenges of TB is that the pathogen persists in many infected individuals in a latent
(which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not yet ill with the disease and cannot
transmit the disease.)state for many years and can be reactivated to cause disease.

● The risk of progression to TB disease after infection is highest soon after the initial
infection and increases dramatically for persons co-infected with HIV/AIDS or other immune-
compromising conditions. Treatment of TB disease requires multiple drugs for many
months.
● Tuberculosis (TB), is considered an important emerging disease in humans, because it is now
the leading cause of death in adults worldwide

● HIV co-infection has been an important determinant in the increase in TB but it is not the only
factor.

● People infected with TB bacteria have a 5–15% lifetime risk of falling ill with TB. Persons with
compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, or
people who use tobacco, have a higher risk of falling ill.

● People living with diabetes who are also infected with TB are more likely to develop TB
disease and become sick with TB.

● In 2018, there were an estimated 862 000 new cases of TB amongst people who were HIV-
positive, 72% of whom were living in Africa.
What type of outbreak is Tuberculosis?

● Tuberculosis is a global pandemic, killing someone

approximately every 21 seconds — about 1.5 million
in 2018 alone.
● Many of the populations most vulnerable to TB,
including children, pregnant women, people living
with HIV, miners, and healthcare workers, are missed
by health systems and do not get the care they need
● In epidemiology, an infection is said to be endemic in
a population when that infection is constantly
maintained at a baseline level in a geographic area
without external inputs.
Chain of Infection for Tuberculosis
Portal of entry/exist For Infectious Agent
Entry
● Portal of entry is the way the
infectious agent can enter a new
host (through broken skin, the
respiratory tract, mucous
membranes.)
Exit
● This is where the microorganism
leaves the reservoir via
respiratory tract, mouth and
nose. When someone with
Tuberculosis sneeze or cough,
they release large numbers of
the Tuberculosis mycobacterium
How is this Agent Transmitted
TB bacteria are spread through the air from person to another. The TB
bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the
lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. People nearby may
breathe in these bacteria and become infected. Depending on the
environment, these tiny particles can remain suspended in the air for
several hours.

TB is NOT spread by

● shaking someone’s hand

● sharing food or drink
● touching bed linens or toilet seats
● sharing toothbrushes
● kissing
● Nurses working with tuberculosis patient need to wear certain personal protective equipment. This includes:

● Gloves

● Gown

● N95 HEPA filter or powered air purifying respirator

Gloves Gown N95 Powered air purifying

respirator
● The length of TB incubation varies depending on individual risk factors. It takes the infection

several months to years to develop active symptoms for the disease.

● Tuberculosis colonize individuals. It is considered nosocomial as it is very infectious and can

be spread via an airborne pathogen when talking, coughing and sneezing from patient to patient

or patient to caregiver.
Is TB Considered A Healthcare Associated Infection?

TB can be transmitted in just about any setting. It can be spread in places such as homes or
worksites. However, TB is most likely to be transmitted in health care settings when health care
workers and patients come in contact with persons who have unsuspected TB disease, who are
not receiving adequate treatment, and who have not been isolated from others.

All health-care settings need an infection-control program designed to ensure the following:

❖ Prompt detection of TB disease;

❖ Airborne precautions;
❖ Treatment of people who have suspected or confirmed tuberculosis (TB) disease
 CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL.

The centers for Disease control and Prevention(CDC) is the leading national public health
institute of the United States.it's main goal is to protect public health and safety through the
control and prevention of disease,injury,and disability in the US and internationally.

CDC implemented and recommended to reduce frequency of TB by screening, testing, and

treatment for health care personnel. And also providing infection control plan program designed
to ensure the following:

● prompt detection of infectious TB patients,

● airborne precautions, and
● treatment of people who have suspected or confirmed TB disease.
CONTINUATION
● The TB infection control program should be based on a three-level hierarchy of control
measures and include:

1. Administrative measures

2. Environmental controls

3. Use of respiratory protective equipment

● Patients who are suspected or confirmed for having TB disease are frequently sent home
after starting treatment, even though they may still be infectious. The only TB vaccine that is
currently available is Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).
● Elimination of TB depends on targeted screening for latent TB, strict adherence to drug
regimens, and the proper use of infection control techniques for hospitalized patients who
have TB. If screening, treatment, and infection control are done properly, TB could be
effectively eliminated.
 References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Tuberculosis. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/tb/

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/programs/laws/menu/definitions.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/globalhivtb/who-we-are/about-us/globaltb/globaltb.html