Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The infection from this bacteria starts in the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain by passage through the blood. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.
There are two kinds of tests that are used to detect TB bacteria in the body: the TB skin test (TST) and TB blood tests. A positive TB skin test or TB blood test only tells that a person has been infected with TB bacteria. It does not tell whether the person has latent TB infection (LTBI) or has progressed to TB disease. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum, are needed to see whether the person has TB disease.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Policy
- Identification #: N/A
- Date: 11/26/2013
- Type: Directives
- Topics:
Tuberculosis
Policy
- Identification #: N/A
- Date: 2/21/2013
- Type: Directives
- Topics:
Tuberculosis
Policy
- Identification #: N/A
- Date: 10/22/2008
- Type: Directives
- Topics:
Tuberculosis
Policy
- Identification #: 08-012
- Date: 9/29/2008
- Type: Memorandums
- Topics:
Tuberculosis
Policy
- Identification #: N/A
- Date: 9/29/2008
- Type: Memorandums
- Topics:
Tuberculosis
Showing results 1 - 7
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