CDC Updates TB Testing Guidelines for Health Care Workers

The CDC has updated their 2005 recommendations for the screening, testing, and treating of health care personnel for tuberculosis (TB).

In 2015, a group of experts from the CDC, state and local public health departments, academia, and occupational health associations was formed to evaluate potential updates to the 2005 recommendations for health care personnel TB screening. In January 2017, they conducted a literature review, and in December 2017, the group developed updated recommendations. Draft recommendations were presented at the ACET meeting in April 2018 and the HICPAC meeting in May 2018, after which, feedback was collected.

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Among the updates to the 2005 recommendations:

Individual TB risk assessments should be conducted in all health care workers in addition to baseline TB screening.

In those without latent TB, routine serial screening is no longer recommended, although routine screening may still be considered in certain high-risk groups.

Treatment should be offered and strongly encouraged to those with latent TB and no prior treatment.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Sosa LE, Njie GJ, Lobato MN, et al. Tuberculosis screening, testing, and treatment of US health care personnel: recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019. MMWR. 2019;68(19);439–443.