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How To Prevent Getting And Spreading Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne bacterial infection. TB prevention measures involve stopping the bacteria from spreading and treating asymptomatic infection before it progresses to active disease.
Active TB disease without proper treatment can be life threatening. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and persistent cough.
Sometimes, people can carry the TB bacterium with no symptoms. This is known as latent TB or TB infection.
People with latent TB are at risk of developing TB disease. This may not happen for months or even years until something interferes with their immune system function and allows the bacteria in their lungs to multiply.
This article discusses TB prevention, including how the bacteria spreads, how to reduce transmission, who is most likely to develop TB disease, and whether vaccination is necessary.
TB is an airborne infection. The infectious agent responsible is the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. Tuberculosis).
A person with active TB disease can spread it with any action that causes the bacteria in their lungs and throat to become airborne.
Examples include:
When another person inhales the bacteria, it enters their lung tissue, where it can cause active disease or remain latent.
A person with latent TB cannot spread the bacteria to others.
M. Tuberculosis usually transmits from the lungs and throat. This means people cannot spread the bacteria from other locations such as their spine or kidneys.
Since TB usually spreads through inhalation of M. Tuberculosis, a person cannot become infected through contact such as:
Read more about how TB spreads.
TB infection is a reportable disease by law. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that people should report suspected or confirmed cases of TB to the designated department or official within 24 hours.
Contact details can be found by searching the internet for "how to report TB," followed by the department a person is in.
Anyone with reason to believe a person has TB must report it to their local health officer or department.
It is possible to control the spread of TB with some preventive measures.
Early diagnosisTB testing can identify latent TB so a person can get prompt treatment. This may prevent their condition from progressing to active disease, during which the TB bacteria can spread to others.
Treatment for latent TB is usually a daily dose of an antibiotic for 6–9 months.
Workplace prevention and controlSome jobs, such as in healthcare, increase a staff member's chances of TB exposure.
Employers in these settings can maintain a TB prevention program and support the timely identification of people who carry the TB bacteria.
Physical distancingA person with active TB disease should stay away from others while there is a chance of M. Tuberculosis transmission.
Transmission can occur when a person has active symptoms such as coughing and flu-like symptoms.
Household contacts are at high risk of TB infection, and doctors may recommend they receive preventive treatment. Screening may also be necessary. A doctor can monitor the effects of treatment to determine when the chance of bacteria spread has passed.
Air quality measuresA person with TB disease can reduce the amount of bacteria in the air by:
UV lightAn article from 2019 discusses how, under controlled conditions, UV radiation may prevent the spread of M. Tuberculosis. It does this by changing the bacteria's genetic material so it cannot reproduce.
Guidance from the CDC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health states that upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lamps may kill or inactivate airborne TB bacteria and lower the risk of infection for people in the room. They are particularly helpful in healthcare settings.
However, UV light can damage the skin and eyes. Installing the lamps out of sight in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems or high up in a room can reduce this risk, but technicians who service the lights should wear protective equipment.
UV air purifiers are another option. However, they can emit ozone, which may cause breathing difficulties. The California Air Resources Board has a list of electronic air cleaners that tests found to emit less than 0.05 parts per million of ozone.
Anyone with exposure to TB bacteria can develop TB disease, but certain people are more likely to get sick sooner.
They include:
Certain medical conditions can also increase a person's chance of becoming sick with TB, such as:
The vaccine for TB is Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG).
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices does not recommend the BCG vaccine for most people in the United States.
This is because of the low rate of TB infection in the U.S. And how the vaccine can cause a false-positive reaction to the TB skin test. In addition, the vaccine is not always effective against pulmonary TB in adults.
Learn more about the BCG vaccine and who is eligible.
TB is an airborne bacterial infection. It can spread when a person with TB coughs or sneezes to send the bacteria into the air and another person breathes it in.
Prevention includes prompt treatment of latent TB, plus air quality control measures such as ventilation and masking.
TB vaccination is not necessary in the U.S. For most people.
Tuberculosis Prevention
On World TB Day, an expert view on tuberculosisOn the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day today, pulmonologist Dr. Vivek Nangia pens an exclusive article for TheHealthSite shedding light on the prevalence of TB in India, current government policies and the way forward. He is the Head and Director, Pulmonology, Medical ICU and Sleep Disorders at Fortis Flt Lt Rajan Dhall Hospital, Delhi.
Indonesia Needs To Triple Its Funding To Control Tuberculosis – Here's Where To Start
Indonesia is still struggling to fight tuberculosis (TB), with the second-highest number of cases worldwide.
In 2021, one study estimated Indonesia had a staggering incidence rate of TB 759 cases per 100,000 people – more than double the World Health Organization's 2021 estimate 354 cases per 100,000 Indonesians. That compares with a global average of 134 per 100,000 people.
Undeterred by the challenges posed by TB, Indonesia has set ambitious targets of reducing TB cases to 190 per 100,000 individuals by 2024 and to 65 per 100,000 by 2030.
With a staggering number of TB cases and those ambitious targets, the country urgently requires increased funding to combat this potentially deadly but preventable communicable disease.
Currently, insufficient funding is a significant obstacle in Indonesia to fight against TB. Sustained adequate funding would ensure the availability of essential resources, diagnostic tools, medications and healthcare services necessary to prevent, diagnose and treat TB effectively.
Lack of funding risks more people getting sickKnown as the TB financing gap, lack of funding can lead to inadequate diagnostic tools and equipment provision, resulting in delayed or inaccurate diagnoses. These delays have grave consequences.
Studies have shown delayed treatment of TB increases disease transmission, posing a greater risk to individuals and communities.
Worldwide, 1.6 million people died from TB in 2021, making it the 13th leading cause of death – and the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19.
According to Indonesia's national strategy, the country needs to spend Rp47.3 trillion (US$3 billion) from 2020 to 2024 to control TB. However, the budget availability for that period is only around Rp15.7 trillion ($990 million).
Indonesia also lacks access to financing help pay for those extra control measures.
The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report said Indonesia needs US$429 million for TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment and US$87 million for tuberculosis care – a total of US$516 million. But it has only secured only US$111 million.
In fact, WHO data shows that since 2009, Indonesia has consistently failed to meet the necessary TB financing requirements, financing only 41% of the needed TB programs each year, on average.
This financing gap restricts the availability of essential medications for TB treatment. This issue is particularly concerning, as drug-resistant strains of TB are emerging, further complicating treatment efforts.
The pandemic hit TB fundingThe COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the TB financing gap in Indonesia.
The government had to change its priorities during the pandemic, reallocating its health budget for COVID-19 treatment and mitigation efforts.
WHO said Indonesia's TB funding decreased around 8.7% between 2019 and 2020.
Upon closer examination,Two significant reasons emerge related to factors contributing to the funding gap.
First, the lack of adequate fund to cover the costs of TB services. This limits the reach and impact of programs.
There is also a tendency among patients to seek diagnosis and treatment at hospitals, rather than local primary healthcare centres and clinics. This leads to a heavier financial burden on the National Health Insurance system, because treatment costs in hospitals are more expensive.
Second, the lack of private sector involvement in diagnosis, reporting and treatment further compounds the problem, hindering progress.
What should we do now?Increasing domestic financing for TB programs is crucial.
The Indonesian government should allocate a higher proportion of the national budget to prevent and control TB, as well as to conduct TB-related research.
Integrating externally-funded TB programs into the National Health Care system would ensure sustainability and align them with the national healthcare framework.
Strengthening the healthcare system is paramount, including bolstering the capacity and infrastructure of local health centres and clinics, training healthcare professionals, and improving diagnostic and treatment services.
Additionally, exploring innovative financing pathways – such as engaging the private sector through public-private partnerships and leveraging international funding mechanisms – could provide the necessary resources to drive progress.
Closing the TB financing gap is essential, not only to improve patients' health, but to also safeguard the well-being and socioeconomic stability of communities as a whole.
Indonesia must pursue strategic actions to overcome these challenges.
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