Tuberculosis secondary prevention
|
Tuberculosis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Tuberculosis secondary prevention On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Tuberculosis secondary prevention |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Tuberculosis secondary prevention |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Secondary prevention for tuberculosis includes methods to achieve an early diagnosis, such as tuberculin skin test (TST) and IFGA; and to guarantee the correct treatment regimen at the right time to prevent disease progression.
Secondary Prevention
Screening
Tuberculin Skin Test
- Children with close contact with a TB confirmed case should be evaluated for tuberculosis infection.
- TST is the test of choice for screening for tuberculosis infection.
=Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs)
- IGRAs can be used in place of (but not in addition to) TST in screening for M. tuberculosis infection.
- IGRAs are used in screening patients with the following conditions:
- Have received BCG vaccination
- Groups that historically have poor rates of return for TST reading.
Early Diagnosis
- Early detection of tuberculosis disease is important to give treatment at the appropriate time and prevent complications.
- All patients should be routinely asked about:[1]
- History of TB exposure, infection, or disease
- Symptoms or signs of TB disease
- Medical conditions that increase their risk for TB disease
- Patients with the following characteristics should be tested for tuberculosis:[1]
- Cough for ≥3 weeks
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Night sweats
- Hemoptysis
- Hoarseness
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Patient from an endemic area of TB
Prompt Treatment
- Empiric therapy should be started as soon as a patient has tuberculosis disease confirmed.
- Sputum specimens should be sent for culture and DST before starting treatment.