Tuberculosis
- Topics
- Basic TB Facts
- Treatment
- Testing & Diagnosis
- TB & HIV Coinfection
- Infection Control & Prevention
- Drug-Resistant TB
- TB in Specific Populations
- African-American Community
- Correctional Facilities
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Strengthen TB Information Systems and Program Assessment
- Strengthen TB Environmental Controls and Isolation Practices
- Provide More Comprehensive and Timely Screening and Diagnostic Evaluations
- Develop and Strengthen Contact Investigation Protocols
- Increase HIV Counseling and Testing
- Increase Staff Training
- Strengthen Collaboration Between Health Departments and Jails
- International Travelers
- Pregnancy
- Disaster Responders
- Children
- Vaccines & Immunizations
- Laboratory Information
- Drug Susceptibility Testing
- The Uses of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for the Diagnosis of TB
- Rapid Molecular Testing to Detect Drug-Resistant TB in the US
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Background on Tests for Molecular Detection of DR
- General Considerations and Principles for a Molecular DR Testing Service�
- Possible Scenarios and Scope of Testing for a Molecular DR Testing Service
- Research Needs
- General Recommendations of the Expert Panel
- Communication Plan for the Report
- Recommendations
- References
- Panel Members and CDC Participants
- Appendix 1
- Appendix 2
- Appendix 3
- Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidance for XDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains
- Molecular Detection of Drug Resistance (MDDR)
- Research
- TB Epidemiologic Studies Consortium
- Background
- Infrastructure
- Research Projects
- Publications
- Meetings
- Directory
- TBESC Committee Members
- Translating Research into Practice (TRIP)
- Contact TBESC
- Prospective Evaluation of Immunogenetic and Immunologic Markers for Susceptibility to Tuberculosis Infection and Progression from M. Tuberculosisinfection to active TB
- Zero Tolerance for Pediatric TB
- Models for Incorporating HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral into Tuberculosis Contact Investigations
- Prevalence of Latent TB Infection Among High Risk Populations in the United States
- Regional Capacity-Building in Low-Incidence Areas
- Use of Network Analysis Methods to Characterize M. tuberculosis Transmission Patterns Among Women and Other High-Risk Populations
- An Analysis of Molecular Epidemiology of Multi-Drug Resistant M. tuberculosisin the United States
- Missed Opportunities for TB Prevention in Foreign-Born Population in the United States and Canada
- New Model for Assessing TB Surveillance and Action Performance and Cost
- Addressing TB Among African Americans in the Southeast: Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to Treatment Adherence for Latent TB Infection and TB Disease
- Assessing the TB Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices Among Private Providers Serving Foreign-born Populations at Risk for TB
- Factors Associated with Acceptance of, Adherence to and Toxicity From Treatment for Latent TB Infection and Pilot Study of Treatment for Latent TB Infection Effectiveness
- Culturally Appropriate TB Educational Materials for Leaders and Staff of Hispanic Service Organizations
- Enhancing TB Programs� Capacity for Self-Evaluation: Testing New Tools and Developing an Evaluation Toolkit
- African Refugee Women�s Health Improvement Project
- Evaluation of the TK Medium: A New Rapid Solid Culture System for Tuberculosis
- Evaluation of New Interferon-y Release Assays in the Diagnosis of Latent TB Infection in Health Care Workers
- Request for Proposal
- TB Trials Consortium
- Behavioral & Social Science Research
- TB Epidemiologic Studies Consortium
- Data & Statistics
- Education & Training
- Resources for TB Programs
- Publications & Products
- Fact Sheets
- General
- Fact sheets - Spanish
- TB - General Information
- The Difference Between Latent TB Infection and Active TB Disease
- Diferencia entre la infección de tuberculosis latente y enfermedad de tuberculosis activa
- A Global Perspective on TB
- Tuberculosis Information for Employers in Non-Healthcare Settings
- Bovine Tuberculosis in Humans
- Tuberculosis Information for International Travelers
- TB Can Be Treated
- Exposure to TB
- TB and HIV/AIDS
- You Can Prevent TB
- Testing for TB
- Tuberculosis: informaci�n general
- Diferencia entre la infecci�n de tuberculosis latente y enfermedad de tuberculosis activa
- Informaci�n sobre la tuberculosis para los viajeros internacionales
- Exposición a la tuberculosis
- Usted puede prevenir la tuberculosis
- La tuberculosis puede ser tratada
- Tuberculosis y VIH/SIDA
- Usted puede prevenir la tuberculosis
- Pruebas para detectar la tuberculosis
- Data & Statistics
- A Global Perspective on TB
- Trends in Tuberculosis – United States
- The Revised Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis
- The National Tuberculosis Indicators Project (NTIP)
- National Tuberculosis Indicators Project (NTIP): Frequently Asked Questions
- TB Genotyping
- TB Genotyping Information Management System (TB GIMS)
- Drug-Resistant TB
- Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB)
- Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB)
- CDC’s Role in Preventing Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB)
- Tuberculosis multirresistente (MDR)
- Tuberculosis extremadamente resistente (XDR)
- El papel de los CDC en la prevenci�n de la tuberculosis extremadamente resistente (XDR)
- Infection Control & Prevention
- TB in Specific Populations
- Tuberculosis Information for Employers in Non-Healthcare Settings
- Tuberculosis in Minorities
- Tuberculosis Information for International Travelers
- TB and HIV/AIDS
- Recommendations for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Screening in Tuberculosis (TB) Clinics
- Treatment of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis Disease in HIV-Infected Persons
- Tuberculosis in Blacks
- Tuberculosis and Pregnancy
- Tuberculosis y embarazo
- Treatment
- TB Can Be Treated
- Treatment of Latent TB Infection
- Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection: Maximizing Adherence
- Treatment Options for Latent Tuberculosis Infection
- Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
- Treatment of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis Disease in Persons Not Infected with HIV
- Treatment of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis Disease in HIV-Infected Persons
- Tratamiento de la infecci�n de tuberculosis latente
- Testing & Diagnosis
- TB Can Be Treated
- Testing for TB
- Recommendations for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Screening in Tuberculosis (TB) Clinics
- Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs)
- Tuberculin Skin Testing
- Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Disease
- Targeted Tuberculin Testing and Interpreting Tuberculin Skin Test Results
- Prueba cutánea de la tuberculina
- Diagnóstico de la tuberculosis activa
- Vaccines & Immunizations
- General
- Guidelines
- Guides & Toolkits
- Core Curriculum
- Self-Study Modules
- Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT)
- Forging Partnerships to Eliminate TB
- Understanding the TB Cohort Review Process
- Latent Tuberculosis Infection: A Guide for Primary Health Care Providers
- Effective TB Interviewing for Contact Investigation
- Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Testing Products
- Ethnographic Guides
- Newsletters
- Pamphlets, Brochures, Booklets
- Posters
- Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test Wall Chart
- World TB Day
- Afiches
- 2011 Poster (English)
- 2011 Poster (Spanish)
- 2010 Poster (English)
- 2010 Poster (Spanish)
- 2008 Poster (English)
- 2008 Poster (Spanish)
- 2006 Poster (English)
- 2004 Poster (English)
- 2004 Poster (Spanish)
- 2003 Poster (English)
- 2003 Poster (Spanish)
- 2003 Now is the Time Poster (English)
- 2003 Now is the Time Poster (Spanish)
- Think TB
- Stop TB
- Reports & Articles
- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs)
- Contact Investigations
- Control and Elimination
- Data & Statistics
- Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
- Infection Control & Prevention
- Laboratory
- TB in Specific Populations
- Foreign-Born
- High-Risk Settings
- Homeless
- International
- Occupational Groups
- Travel
- TB & HIV
- Testing & Diagnosis
- Treatment
- LTBI Updates
- Vaccines & Immunizations
- World TB Day
- DTBE Authored Journal Articles
- Tuberculosis Laboratory Aggregate Reports
- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs)
- Slide Sets
- Core Curriculum
- Self-Study Modules
- Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention Facilities
- Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of M. TB in Health care Settings
- Investigation of Contacts of Persons with Infectious TB
- Text-Only version
- Introduction
- Decisions to Initiate a Contact Investigation
- Investigating the Index Patient and Sites of Transmission
- Assigning Priorities to Contacts
- Diagnostic and Public Health Evaluation of Contacts
- Medical Treatment for Contacts with LTBI
- When to Expand a Contact Investigation
- Communicating Through the News Media
- Data Management and Evaluation of Contact Investigations
- Confidentiality and Consent in Contact Investigations
- Staff Training for Contact Investigations
- Contact Investigations in Special Circumstances
- Source-Case Investigations
- Cultural Competency and Social Network Analysis
- Resources
- Epidemiology of Pediatric Tuberculosis in the United States
- Text-Only version
- Introduction
- Pediatric TB Cases by Age and Race
- Pediatric TB Cases by Origin of Birth
- Pediatric Cases, Percentages and Rates by States
- Pediatric TB Cases by Case Verification Criterion and Site of Disease
- Pediatric TB Cases in Specific Groups
- Pediatric TB Cases Case Completion
- Slide 1
- Slide 2
- Slide 3
- Slide 4
- Slide 5
- Slide 6
- Slide 7
- Slide 8
- Slide 9
- Slide 10
- Slide 11
- Slide 12
- Slide 13
- Slide 14
- Slide 15
- Slide 16
- Slide 17
- Slide 18
- Slide 19
- Slide 20
- Slide 21
- Slide 22
- Slide 23
- Slide 24
- Slide 25
- Slide 26
- Slide 27
- Slide 28
- Slide 29
- Slide 30
- Slide 31
- Treatment of TB
- Targeted Tuberculosis Testing and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection
- CD Roms
- Electronic Tools & Resources
- Web-Based Courses & Webinars
- Fact Sheets
- Global TB
- Events
- Links
- About Us
- Mission Statement and Activities
- Organization Chart
- Advisory Groups
- Federal TB Task Force
- Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Chronology in the Development of This Report
- Strategies for Maintaining Control of TB
- Strategies for Accelerating the Decline of TB
- Activities for Developing New Tools
- Global U.S. Actions
- Assessing the Impact of Actions Taken
- Federal TB Task Force Members and Others Involved in the Development of This Report
- Glossary
- References
- Federal TB Task Force Roster
- Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- How to Eliminate TB? – The IOM Report
- Why Eliminate TB? – Rationale for Elimination
- Who Will Lead? – CDC's Response
- Goal I: Maintain control of TB
- Goal II: Accelerate the decline
- Goal III: Create new tools
- Goal IV: Reduce the global burden of TB
- Goal V: Summon and sustain support
- Goal VI: Track progress
- References
- Federal TB Task Force
- Funding
Infection Control and Prevention
Infection Control in Health Care Settings
Tuberculosis (TB) transmission has been documented in health care settings where health care workers and patients come in contact with people who have TB disease.
People who work or receive care in health care settings are at higher risk for becoming infected with TB; therefore, it is necessary to have a TB infection control plan as part of a general infection control program designed to ensure the following:
- prompt detection of infectious patients,
- airborne precautions, and
- treatment of people who have suspected or confirmed TB disease.
In order to be effective, the primary emphasis of a TB infection control program should be on achieving these three goals.
In all health care settings, particularly those in which people are at high risk for exposure to TB, policies and procedures for TB control should be developed, reviewed periodically, and evaluated for effectiveness to determine the actions necessary to minimize the risk for transmission of TB.
The TB infection control program should be based on a three-level hierarchy of control measures and include:
- Administrative measures
- Environmental controls
- Use of respiratory protective equipment
The first and most important level of the hierarchy, administrative measures, impacts the largest number of people. It is intended primarily to reduce the risk of uninfected people who are exposed to people who have TB disease.
The second level of the hierarchy is the use of environmental controls to reduce the amount of TB in the air. The first two control levels of the hierarchy also minimize the number of areas in the health care setting where exposure to TB may occur.
The third level of the hierarchy is the use of respiratory protective equipment in situations that pose a high risk of exposure to TB. Use of respiratory protection equipment can further reduce the risk for exposure of health care workers.
More: Information about Infection Control in Health Care Settings
TB Prevention
Preventing Exposure to TB Disease While Traveling Abroad
Travelers should avoid close contact or prolonged time with known TB patients in crowded, enclosed environments (for example, clinics, hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters).
Travelers who will be working in clinics, hospitals, or other health care settings where TB patients are likely to be encountered should consult infection control or occupational health experts. They should ask about administrative and environmental procedures for preventing exposure to TB. Once those procedures are implemented, additional measures could include using personal respiratory protective devices.
Travelers who anticipate possible prolonged exposure to people with TB (for example, those who expect to come in contact routinely with clinic, hospital, prison, or homeless shelter populations) should have a tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) test before leaving the United States. If the test reaction is negative, they should have a repeat test 8 to 10 weeks after returning to the United States. Additionally, annual testing may be recommended for those who anticipate repeated or prolonged exposure or an extended stay over a period of years. Because people with HIV infection are more likely to have an impaired response to both the TST and IGRA, travelers who are HIV positive should tell their physicians about their HIV infection status.
More: Tuberculosis Information for International Travelers
What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to TB
If you think you have been exposed to someone with TB disease, contact your health care provider or local health department to see if you should be tested for TB. Be sure to tell the doctor or nurse when you spent time with someone who has TB disease.
More: What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to TB
Preventing Latent TB Infection from Progressing to TB Disease
Many people who have latent TB infection never develop TB disease. But some people who have latent TB infection are more likely to develop TB disease than others. Those at high risk for developing TB disease include:
- People with HIV infection
- People who became infected with TB bacteria in the last 2 years
- Babies and young children
- People who inject illegal drugs
- People who are sick with other diseases that weaken the immune system
- Elderly people
- People who were not treated correctly for TB in the past
If you have latent TB infection and you are in one of these high-risk groups, you should take medicine to keep from developing TB disease. There are several treatment options for latent TB infection. You and your health care provider must decide which treatment is best for you. If you take your medicine as instructed, it can keep you from developing TB disease. Because there are less bacteria, treatment for latent TB infection is much easier than treatment for TB disease. A person with TB disease has a large amount of TB bacteria in the body. Several drugs are needed to treat TB disease.
Related Links
For Patients
For Health Care Providers
- TB Guidelines - Infection Control and Prevention
- Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of M. tuberculosis in Health-Care Settings (Slide set)
- Infection Control in Health Care Settings (Fact sheet)
- Respiratory Protection in Health Care Settings (Fact sheet)
- The Role of BCG Vaccine in the Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in the United States (MMWR)
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE)
1600 Clifton Rd., NE
MS E10
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - New Hours of Operation
8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov