tuberculosis

Question 1

tb

Answer 1

chronic, infectious, inflammatory disease usually of the lungs

Question 2

the airborne mycobacterium tb are inhaled

Answer 2

from a person w active tb, which then multiply in the alveoli

Question 3

tb is not spread from

Answer 3

-shaking someones hand
-sharing food/drinks
-touching bed linens or toilet seats
-sharing toothbrushes
-kissing

Question 4

how to contract

Answer 4

close, frequent, & prolonged exposure. once someone breathes in the tb bacteria, it can settle in the lungs & begin to grow, from there, it can move to other parts of the body such as the kidneys, spine, & brain

Question 5

risk factors

Answer 5

-people w weakened immune systems
-hiv
-autoimmune disorders
-kidney disease
-some cancers
-substance use disorder
-diabetes

Question 6

primary tb

Answer 6

-rarely transmissible
-inflammatory cells in the lungs cause pneumonitis & encircle the m
-tb bacteria resulting in the characteristic granuloma or tubercle

Question 7

latent tb

Answer 7

-never transmissible
-immune system suppresses replication, however, tb can survive in tubercle for years
-screening tests show positivity
-active infection; any organ can become site of reactivation

Question 8

subjective nursing assessment

Answer 8

-primary infection almost always asymptomatic, symptoms progress over weeks/months
-fever
-cough w frothy sputum
-hemoptysis is not common, usually associated w advanced cases
-unexplained weight loss
-night sweats
-fatigue/malaise

Question 9

objective nursing assessment

Answer 9

-fever
-cachexia may be present
-plueritic pain, dyspnea, spontaneous pneumothorax, pleural effusion

Question 10

screening

Answer 10

intradermal ppd identifies pt who has been infected at some point
-often required for students prior to in hospitalized practicums ot for new hires
-read results 48-72 hrs after

Question 11

quantiferon

Answer 11

-rapid test, more accurate
-dx latent tb
-measures the relapse of the interferon gamma

Question 12

medical tx

Answer 12

-drug susceptibility tests; to test drug resistance, could take hrs or weeks
-should be referred to a tb specialist
-pt may need to isolate, but most can be tx as outpt
-generally 4-6 month regimens
-steroids sometimes used to tx inflammation, for pts w ards, meningitis, or pericarditis

Question 13

directly observed therapy

Answer 13

public health professional supervises ingestion of every med doe to enhance likelihood of full course completion

Question 14

1st line drugs

Answer 14

-isoniazid
-rifampin
-pyrazinamide
-ethambutol

Question 15

nursing care & pt education

Answer 15

-importance of adhering to drug therapy
-reinforce that even severe disease is usually curative if tx is instituted & completed
-ask for contact info of those who may have been exposed
-notify the local health department; required!