Tuberculosis Risk Factors and Health Care Professionals
Health Care Professionals with certain activities or characteristics are at increased risk for acquiring TB. Which of the following individuals would NOT be at increased risk for TB?
a) A nurse working in a hospital's TB ward.
b) A medical laboratory technician handling sputum samples for TB testing.
c) A hospital administrator with no direct patient contact.
d) A physician conducting TB research in a lab.
e) A respiratory therapist treating patients with lung conditions, including TB.
Final answer:
Among the provided options, a hospital administrator with no direct patient contact would not be at an increased risk for tuberculosis because this disease is primarily transmitted through direct interaction with infected individuals or samples. Option c.
Explanation:
The individual among the options provided who would NOT be at an increased risk for tuberculosis (TB) is: c) A hospital administrator with no direct patient contact. TB is typically spread through airborne transmission when individuals with the disease, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, cough, sneeze, or spit. Options a, b, d, and e all involve direct contact or exposure to potentially contaminated samples or TB patients. However, a hospital administrator, who does not have direct patient contact, is less likely to be exposed to the bacterium and is therefore less at risk of contracting TB.
Health care professionals, including nurses, laboratory technicians, physicians, and respiratory therapists, are among those at increased risk of acquiring tuberculosis (TB) due to their direct exposure to infected individuals or samples. In the provided scenario, the hospital administrator stands out as an individual who would not be at an increased risk.
TB is a contagious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs. It is typically transmitted through airborne particles released when an infected individual with active TB coughs, sneezes, or speaks. This mode of transmission highlights the importance of direct contact or proximity to infected individuals in the risk of acquiring TB.
Individuals working in high-risk settings such as TB wards, laboratories handling TB samples, and those involved in direct patient care are more likely to be exposed to the bacterium and thus have an increased risk of contracting TB. On the other hand, a hospital administrator who does not have direct patient contact and is not directly involved in patient care or sample handling is at a lower risk of acquiring TB.
It is crucial for health care facilities to implement appropriate infection control measures to protect their staff, including screening for TB, providing appropriate personal protective equipment, and implementing proper ventilation systems in high-risk areas. By identifying potential risk factors and implementing preventive measures, the spread of TB among health care professionals can be minimized.