Content Information
A. Isolation and Quarantine Requirements
Suspected or active cases of infectious TB should be isolated to home and not return to normal activities until they meet the criteria for non-infectiousness (see Period of Communicability or Infectious Period). Persons already living in the household may continue to do so. These persons are free to continue their normal activities. People not previously exposed should refrain from entering the environment until the patient is no longer infectious.
Although TB care and treatment are often provided by other medical care providers, the health department has the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that TB patients do not transmit M. tuberculosis to others. Health departments must ensure that medical services are available, accessible, and acceptable for TB patients, suspects, contacts, and others at high risk, without regard to the patients’ ability to pay for such services.
B. Protection of Contacts of a Case
The local health department will identify and evaluate all close contacts of suspected or active cases of TB. These contacts will be evaluated to determine if they have latent tuberculosis infection or active disease.
C. Managing Special Situations
Reported Incidence Is Higher than Usual/Outbreak Suspected
Report unusual cases to the Iowa TB Control Program at (515) 281-7504.
Exposure of a Laboratory Worker
Confer with Iowa TB Control Program or Infection Preventionist at the place of exposure.
D. Preventive Measures
Environmental Measures
The second level of the hierarchy is the use of engineering controls to prevent the spread and reduce the concentration of infectious droplet nuclei. These controls include (a) direct source control using exhaust ventilation, (b) controlling the direction of airflow to prevent the contamination of air in areas adjacent to the infectious source, (c) diluting and removing contaminated air via general ventilation, and (d) cleaning the air via air filtration or ultraviolet germicidal irradiation
Preventive Measures/Education
Call the Iowa TB Control Program at (515) 281-8636 or (515) 281-7504.
Iowa Dept. of Public Health, Reviewed 8/15