Introduction

Clinical description

Nosocomial transmission of TB is a major problem in health care facilities. This is because persons with undiagnosed and potentially infectious TB mix with others, including those with HIV infection.

Persons with HIV-associated immunosuppression may become infected or re-infected with TB if they are exposed to someone with infectious TB disease. They can progress rapidly from TB infection to disease. Health care workers and other staff are also at particularly high risk of infection with TB when frequently exposed to patients with infectious TB disease. It is therefore important to reduce risk of (nosocomial) TB transmission in health care facilities.