Patient isolation with minimal resources
Abstract
How do you deal with patients who have suspected or diagnosed TB in a general ward? ‘People with active TB in their lungs can pass the bacteria on to anyone they come into close contact with. When a patient with active TB coughs, sneezes or spits, people nearby may breathe in the tuberculosis bacteria and become infected.’ 2 If those people nearby have a low immunity and are already ill, they have an even bigger chance of contracting the disease 'people who are co-infected with both HIV
and latent TB have an up to 800 times greater risk of developing active TB disease and becoming infectious compared to people not infected with HIV.’1
This article shows that it is possible to accommodate a suspected or diagnosed TB patient in a general ward, by making adjustments regarding ventilation, protective clothing and barrier nursing, management of coughing and spills, proper education and the co-operation of all involved parties – doctor, patient and nursing staff.
and latent TB have an up to 800 times greater risk of developing active TB disease and becoming infectious compared to people not infected with HIV.’1
This article shows that it is possible to accommodate a suspected or diagnosed TB patient in a general ward, by making adjustments regarding ventilation, protective clothing and barrier nursing, management of coughing and spills, proper education and the co-operation of all involved parties – doctor, patient and nursing staff.