Coworker tested positive for TB!? Can someone answer my questions about TB??

Question

I am interning at this place, and around a month ago they hired a second intern. We were sharing an office. Today I came in and he was leaving, I checked my email and apparently he had tested positive for TB twice and the section supervisor asked him to leave, and he wasn't coming back for a while?

Anyway... I've heard that TB is very infectious and there is no real cure. I've never heard of anyone getting TB in a non third world country. How likely is this? Is he going to be ok?

Do I have TB now? Is TB lurking around the office, and do I need to spray everything down with disinfectant?

Answer 1

you should be tested. there were two schools here that had students test positive for it.

Answer 2

OK FACT
TB is not a third word disease as many want the world to beleive that all contagious deases are from the third world
at the moment N.Y is actualy over loaded with TB and it is a strand that is very hard to cure
it is not by people from the third world it is actually american who never leave NY let alone Know what an airport look like
This Trand of TB is found in drug addicted, the homelesses
and because it is hard to get those people to take their med
it make it harder for it to be treated and not spread
the health department is very quiet about it
because it can create a panic
also note that if someone was giving the TB vaccination as a chid when having a test it can show that you have the deases
a chest Xray must be done to insure that all is ok
Goodluck

Answer 3

A lot of people can be a carrier for TB. They say over 1/3 of people have the bacterium, although in most people, it doesn't do anything serious (doesn't turn into an infection of the lungs).

You have the greatest chance of infection when someone sneezes or aerially contract the bacterium; transmission is only possible by actively infected people, and if he was, then it depends on the duration of exposure (how often, how close, how long), the virulence of the strain, etc.

Best to spray down with disinfectant or wipes and clean the area, after a few weeks, though, in a dry environment, there should be little risk of infection.

Also, if your coworker had the BCG vaccine for TB (commonly given everywhere but the US), they will test positive for TB. The test for TB is called a Mantoux, and the vaccine uses weak strains to generate antibodies, and will test positive to the Mantoux exam. Therefore, without blood tests or an x-ray, it's hard to determine if they're really infected. I know of people who have had this problem with getting into schools/colleges.

If you're worried, you can go to visit your local physician. Any of the symptoms of TB should treated accordingly; however, infection rate is relatively low, and most varieties can be treated with simple antibiotics, although a few cases will be resistant and require second-line antibiotics/drugs to treat. You do not have anything to worry about if you're in the US and get treatment quickly after the onset of symptoms.

Look for prolonged coughing, chest pain, fever, chills, appetite loss, etc.

Answer 4

Unless you have spent alot of time with him in really closed spaces chances are you have nothing to worry about, but if you want to be sure, you should go and get a TB test, its very simple, and you get the results in about 48 hours. All it is, is a small injection of the TB viralent about a pea size amount, under the surface of the skin. If you do not have TB it will be absorbed by your body within 24-48 hours, if you have it then it would become painful and inflamed and swell, they will measure it when you come back to determine whether or not you have it. As long as your co-worker is placed on antibiotics, early on, then he should be fine. It is possible to get TB from anywhere, but chances are it is somehow connected to someone from a third world country, has he recently traveled out of the country or maybe he has family or other friends from over seas.

Answer 5

I know of someoone with TB.. and it is usually spread with working for underprivelidged/ elderly in this country. The local health department can test you if you are worried, but usually you will not be affected. You could give everything a good wipe down, but really just go get tested if you are worried.
p.s. most folks with TB are just carriers, and do not display symptoms ever!

Answer 6

tb is airborne if he coughed near you the droplets from the cough are in the air you breathe them in or if he coughed directly on you. this also goes for sneezing. it is curable. but the treatment is very extensive and lengthy . anyway it wouldnt hurt to spray the air with a disinfectant such as lysol. you could look up tb on the webjust type in tb.com anyway your place of employment should be having everyone tested for tb in case this employee has spread it to anyone.

Answer 7

EVEN THOUGH TB IS RARELY CONTAGIOUS HERE IS SOME GOOD INFO
http://www.continuingeducation.com/pharmtech/tbpatho/tbpatho.pdf?x=1131320770&t=

Answer 8

Like you M I am furious that you and others have been open to this disease which could have been prevented. You also have a valid point about immigrants bringing it into Britain. I am sorry to say though that you probably won't get any answers - maybe we should start a petition on here demanding answers and vaccination again although I know it is too late for you and yours.

Answer 9

Try reading this here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuberculosis

Should answer all your questions. If you are really concerned then yes you should see your family doctor.