Prevention of tuberculosis and isolation of tuberculosis patients in health care facilities

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2019;62(1):5-10

Publication date (electronic) : 2019 January 21

doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2019.62.1.5

Jae Seuk Park, MD

Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.

Corresponding author: Jae Seuk Park. jspark@dankook.ac.kr

Received 2018 December 19; Accepted 2019 January 08.

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most serious infectious diseases in South Korea. TB patients release Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the air when they speak or cough. Once released into the air, these bacteria remain suspended for a long time, and people in the vicinity of TB patients can breathe the infectious particles into their lungs and become infected. TB is most likely to be transmitted in health care facilities when health care workers and patients come into contact with TB patients who are not adequately treated. Thus, TB infection control measures are required to prevent TB transmission in health care facilities. This review discusses methods of reducing the risk of transmission of TB in health care facilities such as cough etiquette, the early diagnosis and treatment of TB patients, isolation of TB patients and the use of personal respiratory protective devices.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; Prevention & control; Isolation & purification; Health care facility

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Korean Medical Association

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Figure 1

Diagram of facility standard of negative pressure isolation room. Adapted from Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidelines for management and operation of nationally-designated hospital bed [Internet]. Cheongju: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2017 [11].