TUBERCULOSIS
Incoming Students
Incoming students must complete a Tuberculosis (TB) Screening included in their Immunization Packet.
Current Student
Current students may schedule a Tuberculosis (TB) Screening with a team nurse.
What is Tuberculosis(TB)?
TB is a bacterial infection that impacts the lungs and sometimes infects other parts of the body. It is transmitted from person to person through droplets suspended in the air.
TB can live in the body without making you sick. This is known as Latent or Inactive TB. Without treatment, people with Inactive TB can develop Active TB disease at any time and become sick.
You are at higher risk of being exposed to TB if you were born in or travel to a country where TB is common, work(ed) or live(d) in group settings where TB is common (such as homeless shelters, correctional facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes), or recently spent time with someone who has Active TB disease.
TB is a bacterial infection that impacts the lungs and sometimes infects other parts of the body. It is transmitted from person to person through droplets suspended in the air.
TB can live in the body without making you sick. This is known as Latent or Inactive TB. Without treatment, people with Inactive TB can develop Active TB disease at any time and become sick.
You are at higher risk of being exposed to TB if you were born in or travel to a country where TB is common, work(ed) or live(d) in group settings where TB is common (such as homeless shelters, correctional facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes), or recently spent time with someone who has Active TB disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of Tuberculosis(TB)?
People whose TB is currently Inactive or Latent cannot spread the disease and do not have symptoms.
People whose TB has become Active can spread the disease to others via droplets suspended in the air and may have the following symptoms: a bad cough lasting more than 3 weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum from deep inside the lungs, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever, and night sweats.
People whose TB is currently Inactive or Latent cannot spread the disease and do not have symptoms.
People whose TB has become Active can spread the disease to others via droplets suspended in the air and may have the following symptoms: a bad cough lasting more than 3 weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum from deep inside the lungs, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever, and night sweats.
What should I do if I think I have Tuberculosis(TB))?
Students should isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your home team.
DO NOT walk into UHC without an appointment as you risk exposing others. Contact your home team in advance to inform them of your risk for mumps, and they will provide instructions including accessing an alternate entrance at UHC to avoid exposing others.
Faculty and staff should also isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your healthcare provider. Inform any healthcare provider in advance of your risk for mumps so that they may provide you with special instructions to avoid exposing others.
Students should isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your home team.
DO NOT walk into UHC without an appointment as you risk exposing others. Contact your home team in advance to inform them of your risk for mumps, and they will provide instructions including accessing an alternate entrance at UHC to avoid exposing others.
Faculty and staff should also isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your healthcare provider. Inform any healthcare provider in advance of your risk for mumps so that they may provide you with special instructions to avoid exposing others.
How do I protect myself from Tuberculosis(TB)?
If you are diagnosed with Latent or Inactive TB, then the best way to protect against Active TB is treatment with antibiotics which takes several months. Without treatment, 1 in 10 of those with Inactive TB will develop Active TB disease.
If you are traveling to or working in a setting where TB disease is likely to be present, consider doing another TB Screening. Students may make an appointment for a TB Screening with their home team. Faculty and staff should contact their healthcare provider.
If you are diagnosed with Latent or Inactive TB, then the best way to protect against Active TB is treatment with antibiotics which takes several months. Without treatment, 1 in 10 of those with Inactive TB will develop Active TB disease.
If you are traveling to or working in a setting where TB disease is likely to be present, consider doing another TB Screening. Students may make an appointment for a TB Screening with their home team. Faculty and staff should contact their healthcare provider.
What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
TB is a bacterial infection that impacts the lungs and sometimes infects other parts of the body. It is transmitted from person to person through droplets suspended in the air.
TB can live in the body without making you sick. This is known as Latent or Inactive TB. Without treatment, people with Inactive TB can develop Active TB disease at any time and become sick.
You are at higher risk of being exposed to TB if you were born in or travel to a country where TB is common, work(ed) or live(d) in group settings where TB is common (such as homeless shelters, correctional facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes), or recently spent time with someone who has
Active TB disease.
How is it Transmitted?
TB is spread by airborne transmission. The tuberculosis bacilli travel in minute droplets of fluid called droplet nuclei. When a person with active TB sneezes, coughs, sings, talks, shouts, or breathes, these droplet nuclei are projected into the air where they become suspended. When another person inhales this contaminated air, they can become infected with the bacteria.
TB is spread by airborne transmission. The tuberculosis bacilli travel in minute droplets of fluid called droplet nuclei. When a person with active TB sneezes, coughs, sings, talks, shouts, or breathes, these droplet nuclei are projected into the air where they become suspended. When another person inhales this contaminated air, they can become infected with the bacteria.
What are the Symptoms?
People whose TB is currently Inactive or Latent cannot spread the disease and do not have symptoms. People whose TB has become Active can spread the disease to others via droplets suspended in the air and may have the following symptoms: a bad cough lasting more than 3 weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum from deep inside the lungs, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever, and night sweats.
People whose TB is currently Inactive or Latent cannot spread the disease and do not have symptoms. People whose TB has become Active can spread the disease to others via droplets suspended in the air and may have the following symptoms: a bad cough lasting more than 3 weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum from deep inside the lungs, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever, and night sweats.
What should I do if I think I have Tuberculosis (TB)?
Students should isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your home team. DO NOT walk into UHC without an appointment as you risk exposing others. Contact your home team in advance to inform them of your concern for TB, and they will provide instructions including accessing an alternate entrance at UHC to avoid exposing others. Faculty and staff should also isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your healthcare provider. Inform any healthcare provider in advance of your concern for TB so that they may provide you with special instructions to avoid exposing others.
Students should isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your home team. DO NOT walk into UHC without an appointment as you risk exposing others. Contact your home team in advance to inform them of your concern for TB, and they will provide instructions including accessing an alternate entrance at UHC to avoid exposing others. Faculty and staff should also isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your healthcare provider. Inform any healthcare provider in advance of your concern for TB so that they may provide you with special instructions to avoid exposing others.
How is it Diagnosed?
Tuberculosis infection is usually diagnosed through the use of the mantoux tuberculin skin test (PPD). In this test a dose of purified protein derived from the tubercle bacilli, which is non-infectious, is injected into the upper layer of skin, usually on the forearm. After 48-72 hours, the test site is examined. There may be some redness and a hardened area of tissue (induration) which will be evaluated. A positive skin test indicates infection with tuberculosis, but is not necessarily an indication of active tuberculosis. Chest x-rays and sputum smears and cultures are used to test for active tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis infection is usually diagnosed through the use of the mantoux tuberculin skin test (PPD). In this test a dose of purified protein derived from the tubercle bacilli, which is non-infectious, is injected into the upper layer of skin, usually on the forearm. After 48-72 hours, the test site is examined. There may be some redness and a hardened area of tissue (induration) which will be evaluated. A positive skin test indicates infection with tuberculosis, but is not necessarily an indication of active tuberculosis. Chest x-rays and sputum smears and cultures are used to test for active tuberculosis.
How do I protect myself from Tuberculosis (TB)?
If you are diagnosed with Latent or Inactive TB, then the best way to protect against Active TB is treatment with antibiotics which takes several months. Without treatment, 1 in 10 of those with inactive TB will develop Active TB disease. If you are traveling to or working in a setting where TB disease is likely to be present, consider doing another TB Screening. Students may make an appointment for a TB Screening with their home team. Faculty and staff should contact their healthcare provider.
If you are diagnosed with Latent or Inactive TB, then the best way to protect against Active TB is treatment with antibiotics which takes several months. Without treatment, 1 in 10 of those with inactive TB will develop Active TB disease. If you are traveling to or working in a setting where TB disease is likely to be present, consider doing another TB Screening. Students may make an appointment for a TB Screening with their home team. Faculty and staff should contact their healthcare provider.
Can it be Treated?
Yes, TB can be treated.
LTBI: After transmission of the tuberculi bacilli, if antibiotic treatment is given for 9-12 months, the chances of a person developing active tuberculosis is very small. Usually within 2-10 weeks after initial infection, the body's immune response limits further growth and spread of the tuberculi bacilli; however, some may remain dormant for many years. Persons with LTBI usually have a positive tuberculin skin test (TST), but they do not have symptoms of active TB, and they are not infectious. Persons with LTBI have an approximately 10% chance of developing active TB during their lifetime. This risk is greatest during the first two years after infection. Immunocompromised persons have a greater risk for latent TB to progress to active TB.
Active TB: Can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Drug treatment may be required for nine months up to two years, depending on the strain of bacteria. Some drug resistant tuberculosis may require a combination of several antibiotics. It is extremely important for a person with active TB to take their medications as prescribed and for the length of time required to cure the infection.
Yes, TB can be treated.
LTBI: After transmission of the tuberculi bacilli, if antibiotic treatment is given for 9-12 months, the chances of a person developing active tuberculosis is very small. Usually within 2-10 weeks after initial infection, the body's immune response limits further growth and spread of the tuberculi bacilli; however, some may remain dormant for many years. Persons with LTBI usually have a positive tuberculin skin test (TST), but they do not have symptoms of active TB, and they are not infectious. Persons with LTBI have an approximately 10% chance of developing active TB during their lifetime. This risk is greatest during the first two years after infection. Immunocompromised persons have a greater risk for latent TB to progress to active TB.
Active TB: Can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Drug treatment may be required for nine months up to two years, depending on the strain of bacteria. Some drug resistant tuberculosis may require a combination of several antibiotics. It is extremely important for a person with active TB to take their medications as prescribed and for the length of time required to cure the infection.
Who is at Risk?
High risk groups are the homeless, the elderly, prison inmates, alcoholics, IV drug users, persons with HIV/AIDS, African-Americans, Asians, American Indians, Hispanics, and foreign-born people who come from a region with a high rate of TB (i.e. Asia, Africa, Carribean, and Latin America). Healthcare workers in general are considered to be at increased risk. Many factors however are considered in determining the risk for each healthcare facility. These include: the amount of TB in the community served, the type of facility, outpatient vs inpatient services, the number of patients diagnosed with TB, the drug-susceptibility patterns of patients treated for TB, the PPD skin test results of the healthcare workers, and the infection control policies practiced. Based on these factors, healthcare workers at the LTHC would be considered to be at low risk.
High risk groups are the homeless, the elderly, prison inmates, alcoholics, IV drug users, persons with HIV/AIDS, African-Americans, Asians, American Indians, Hispanics, and foreign-born people who come from a region with a high rate of TB (i.e. Asia, Africa, Carribean, and Latin America). Healthcare workers in general are considered to be at increased risk. Many factors however are considered in determining the risk for each healthcare facility. These include: the amount of TB in the community served, the type of facility, outpatient vs inpatient services, the number of patients diagnosed with TB, the drug-susceptibility patterns of patients treated for TB, the PPD skin test results of the healthcare workers, and the infection control policies practiced. Based on these factors, healthcare workers at the LTHC would be considered to be at low risk.
More Information
Information from the CDC on extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB)
American College Health Association
Center for Disease Control:
If you are interested in being tested for tuberculosis, please contact your Medical Team.
Information from the CDC on extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB)
American College Health Association
Center for Disease Control:
If you are interested in being tested for tuberculosis, please contact your Medical Team.