Exposed to tuberculosis while at work.
@lolalolacherrycola (899)
United States
April 30, 2008 12:55pm CST
I work as a Registered Nurse at a large inner city teaching hospital.
On Friday I was taking care of a patient that had been "cleared" by the pulmonary team, meaning he no longer was on airborne isolation precautions for TB.
Late in the afternoon I received a call from the Infectious Disease nurse asking me about the patient and if he was currently on airborne isolation precautions.
I told her No, Pulmonary cleared him yesterday and he has not been on precautions.
She proceeded to inform me that his sputum culture had come back positive for acid fast mycobacterium and that he never should have been taken off precautions.
Of course, I placed him back on strict airborne isolation precautions, however, I was exposed to him. Tuberculosis is highly contagious and it makes me angry.
I will be tested and followed for the next 12 months to make sure I didn't contract it; however it worries me because I have an autoimmune disease (TTP) that makes me very susceptible to getting sick more easily.
How would you feel? What would you do?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Apr 08
I don't know how it works in the states as I am in Canada but can you complain to the government, about the situation, perhaps you are entitled to some compensation, I know it does not replace being infected, but maybe there is some help for you.
1 person likes this
@lolalolacherrycola (899)
• United States
2 May 08
Hopefully, I will not be infected. However, I won't know for sure until at least 3 months to a year have passed. It takes awhile to convert.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
30 Apr 08
That is really bad, he should surely have not been taken off precautions if his results had not come back, you have been put at risk now and it is somebodies fault.
I would have been furious, especially if I was more susceptible to getting sick easier than anyone else, and having to wait 12 months I would be a nervous wreck.
@lolalolacherrycola (899)
• United States
2 May 08
It does make me angry that the Pulmologist cleared him and the patient wasn't on precautions.
Sometimes I wonder if being a Registered Nurse is worth it; we come in to contact with so much stuff and certainly do not get compensated for it.
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
30 Apr 08
Wow, sorry to hear about that. I work in a public place and get exposed to all kinds of diseases from the general public. I was recently exposed to measles, but, luckily, I was vaccinated several times over my life. I also had a positive TB test, but I never got a follow-up and it's been about 15 to 20 years since my last test. I wonder if I should have it checked out and treated. I never came down with the disease. I also have health problems that make it easy for me to get sick.
I know for TB, the treatment is really cheap where I live, so I may just go and get tested and treated. Like you, I can't do anything about it now except get myself taken care of. Luckily, the disease is treatable if you catch it early.
@lolalolacherrycola (899)
• United States
2 May 08
Some people who test positive are carriers and never end up sick with the disease. When you have a history of a positive TB skin test they do a chest xray to see if you have TB.
Symptoms are cough, fatigue and rapid weight loss.
