Home Isolation for Tuberculosis (TB)
A fact sheet on staying home when you TB to keep you and those around you safe
A fact sheet on staying home when you TB to keep you and those around you safe
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which primarily affects the lungs but can develop in any part of the body. There are two forms of TB: active TB disease and TB infection (formerly known as latent TB infection). Active disease means that the bacteria are growing, causing symptoms, and can be transmitted to others (if located in the lungs), while TB infection (TBI) means that the TB bacteria are in the body but inactive.
IGRA assesses for past exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is more specific for the bacteria than the Tuberculin Skin Test and is not affected by past BCG vaccination. More information can be found in the Canadian TB Standards, 7th edition, Chapter 4.
Each year, World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed on March 24. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB).
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit strongly recommends that all employees/volunteers in all healthcare settings have pre-employment baseline TB screening.
If a TST or IGRA is required, it should be administered and read before immunization or delayed for four weeks after vaccination.
A table indicating a TEST result, and the situations in which it is considered positive.
A table of TB information, and a downloadable poster of the resource.