Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment of U.S. Health Care Personnel: Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019 | MMWR

Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment of U.S. Health Care Personnel: Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019 | MMWR

Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment of U.S. Health Care Personnel: Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019

Weekly / May 17, 2019 / 68(19);439–443

Lynn E. Sosa, MD1,2; Gibril J. Njie, MPH3; Mark N. Lobato, MD2; Sapna Bamrah; Morris, MD3; William Buchta, MD4,5; Megan L. Casey, MPH6; Neela D. Goswami, MD3; MaryAnn Gruden, MSN7; Bobbi Jo Hurst7; Amera R. Khan, MPH3; David T. Kuhar, MD8; David M. Lewinsohn, MD, PhD9; Trini A. Mathew, MD10; Gerald H. Mazurek, MD3; Randall Reves, MD2,11; Lisa Paulos, MPH2,12; Wendy Thanassi, MD2,13; Lorna Will, MA2; Robert Belknap, MD2,11 (View author affiliations)

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Since 1991, U.S. tuberculosis (TB) rates have declined, including among health care personnel (HCP). Serial TB testing has limitations in populations at low risk.

What is added by this report?

A systematic review found a low percentage of HCP have a positive TB test at baseline and upon serial testing. Updated recommendations for screening and testing HCP include an individual baseline (preplacement) risk assessment, symptom evaluation and testing of persons without prior TB or latent TB infection (LTBI), no routine serial testing in the absence of exposure or ongoing transmission, treatment for HCP diagnosed with LTBI, annual symptom screening for persons with untreated LTBI, and annual TB education of all HCP.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Increasing LTBI treatment among HCP might further decrease TB transmission in health care settings.