title: Preventing Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health Care Settings.
abstract: Patients with tuberculosis (TB) pose a risk to other patients and health care workers, and outbreaks in health care settings occur when appropriate infection control measures are not used. In this article, we discuss strategies to prevent transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within health care settings. All health care facilities should have an operational TB infection control plan that emphasizes the use of a hierarchy of controls (administrative, environmental, and personal respiratory protection). We also discuss resources available to clinicians who work in the prevention and investigation of nosocomial transmission of M tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Einstein Medical Center, Klein Building, Suite 300, 5501 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA. Electronic address: PunjabiC@einstein.edu.
authors.forename: Chitra D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Punjabi
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Fellowship Program, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Einstein Medical Center, Klein Building, Suite 300, 5501 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Perloff
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control, Einstein Medical Center, Klein Building, Suite 300, 5501 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA.
authors.forename: Jerry M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission
keywords: Health care setting; Infection control; M tuberculosis; Nosocomial spread; Tuberculosis