Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) is a worldwide disease that primarily affects the respiratory tract caused by the bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The tubercle bacilli organisms are acquired from persons with active TB disease who can transmit viable organisms by methods such as coughing, sneezing, shouting, singing, or screaming. Aerosolized infectious droplet nuclei from a person with active TB disease can enter the respiratory tract and become deposited in the lung alveoli of exposed persons.

M. tuberculosis and other infectious agents that are transmitted by infectious droplet nuclei or infectious aerosols pose a risk to health care workers (HCWs) and their environment, as well as the community. If respiratory protection is inadequate, HCWs who come in contact with TB-infected individuals, and laboratory workers who process specimens from TB-infected patients, may be at an increased risk of exposure and infection.

For more information, see the CDC publication regarding preventing the transmission of TB in healthcare settings at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5417a1.htm.¹