Pathogens
Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Precautions

Airborne Precautions (N95)

Susceptibilities

General Information

Acid fast bacillus

Latent disease believed to affect >20% of world population.

Prevalence higher in developing nations and mimics HIV/AIDS distribution

Pulmonary - cavitating pneumonia, upper lobe pnuemonia, occasionally miliary

Extrapulmonary including lymph node disease, CNS infection, osteomyelitis (Potts), peritoneal and others.

Precautions Consult Clinical Epidemiology/Infection Prevention for ALL cases of confirmed or suspected TB.

Airborne Precautions for pulmonary/laryngeal disease (confirmed or suspected).

Airborne/Contact precautions for draining lesion (including scrofula).

For suspect cases, keep on Airborne Precautions until 3 negative AFB smears are obtained; no sooner than q8h apart (with one early morning specimen).

Note that patients with active TB may NOT be discharged from the hospital without permission from LA County Department of Public Health. Clinical Epidemiology & Infection Prevention will assist.

Other Caseating granulomas on pathology

MDR includes Rifampin and Isoniazid resistance