Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTB PreventionEarly DiagnosisLower TB ExposureFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
TB Prevention
Early Diagnosis
Lower TB Exposure
Frequently Asked Questions
Tuberculosis (TB)is a preventable bacterial infection.Prevention focuses on treating latent TB (when the condition lives in your body but doesn’t make you sick) to halt the active disease, early diagnosis, and vaccination.
This article provides an overview of TB prevention strategies and how to implement them.
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Tuberculosis Prevention Measures
TBis a serious disease that can be fatal if left untreated. Fortunately, there are several prevention measures available. This is especially important for people more vulnerable to TB, such as those living withhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)or frequently exposed to TB.
How TB SpreadsTB is an airborne disease, meaning particles of TB bacteria are carried in the air. It can spread whenever an infected person coughs, speaks, sneezes, or sings. TB is not spread through shaking hands, hugging, or sharing a bathroom. Once you breathe in TB bacteria, it can settle into your lungs and spread from there. TB spreads quickly in homes, hospitals, and close living quarters like dorms or hostels.
How TB Spreads
TB is an airborne disease, meaning particles of TB bacteria are carried in the air. It can spread whenever an infected person coughs, speaks, sneezes, or sings. TB is not spread through shaking hands, hugging, or sharing a bathroom. Once you breathe in TB bacteria, it can settle into your lungs and spread from there. TB spreads quickly in homes, hospitals, and close living quarters like dorms or hostels.
Vaccination in Children and Adults
TheBacille Calmette-Guérin(BCG) vaccine protects against TB. The BCG vaccine is commonly given to infants and children in countries with high rates of TB infections. In the United States, it is given to certain healthcare workers. The BCG vaccine is alive vaccineand is not safe for those who areimmunocompromised.
The BCG vaccine is 70% to 80% effective at protecting against the most serious forms of TB, like TBmeningitis. However, it is not as effective at protecting against lung TB infections.
Immune Health
People with compromised immune systems are most at risk of becoming ill from TB. This includes those with HIV or any condition that affects the immune system. People who inject illicit drugs are also at an increased risk, as well as infants, young children, and older people.
Having a healthy immune system is an important part of being able to fight off a TB infection. Talk with your healthcare provider about any steps you can take to strengthen your body’s immune system.
At-Home Quarantine
Medication
TB is a curable disease. The treatment for TB includes medication that may need to be taken for four, six, or nine months. The length of treatment depends on which drugs are used and why.
What Is Tuberculosis?
Early Diagnosis and Testing
Getting an early diagnosis of TB is the best way to prevent its spread. Screening for latent TB is recommended for anyone at greater risk of exposure to TB. If you believe you have been exposed to TB, see your healthcare provider immediately.
The first step is to undergo a TB skin or blood test, which is used to detect both active and latent TB. People who have received the BCG vaccine in the past will also have a positive skin test. Only people with active TB can spread the disease to others.
If your skin or blood test returns positive, your medical team will recommend a chest X-ray and sputum sample to determine if you have active TB disease. After exposure to TB, it is possible to become sick either immediately or months later.
People with latent TB have the infection but cannot spread it to others. Latent TB does not cause any physical symptoms. Latent TB can turn into an active disease in the future. This is more likely to occur in those who are immunocompromised.
Precautions to Lower TB Exposure and Transmission
If you are living in or traveling to an area with an increased risk of exposure, there are measures you can take to protect yourself.
During Travel
If you plan a trip to a country with high rates of TB, talk with your healthcare provider first. Before your trip, they may suggest a TB skin test. When you return from your trip, repeat the skin test eight to 10 weeks after getting home.
If you are participating in a service or medical mission abroad, talk about their TB prevention protocols with your trip organizers. Ask if the organization provides personal protective equipment (PPE) such as N95 masks. Places where TB can spread quickly include crowded hospitals, incarceration centers, homeless shelters, and other buildings with people living in close quarters.
In Medical Settings
Healthcare providers should be tested for TB regularly and have access to PPE when needed. TB is an airborne disease, and healthcare workers require an N95 mask to protect themselves.
How to Wear N95 Masks Properly
Hygiene
Simple hygiene measures can help prevent the spread of TB. People with active TB need to cough or sneeze into disposable tissues to lower the risk of spreading the disease. Used tissues must be disposed of right away. Handwashing is important for individuals with TB and anyone who comes in close contact with them.
Summary
TB is a serious and potentially fatal disease spread through the air. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent the spread of disease. Proven prevention methods include vaccination, testing, early diagnosis, quarantine, and medication treatment. Immune health and hygiene are also important ways to stop the spread. Individuals who are at increased risk of being exposed include healthcare workers, international travelers, and those who are immunocompromised.
A Word From Verywell
TB is a serious disease, and the thought of being exposed to it can create anxiety. If you live or work in an area at risk, talk with your healthcare provider about how to best protect yourself. TB is curable and even preventable with all the tools available today.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhen you have TB, avoiding going out or having close contact with others is vital. Quarantine at home and work with your healthcare provider or local health department to determine when it is safe to leave.Symptoms of TBinclude a severe cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, fever, weakness, fatigue, chills, and night sweats.The cough can last at least three weeks or longer.Learn MoreTuberculosis: Signs, Symptoms, and ComplicationsThe BCG vaccine is 70% to 80% effective at protecting against the most severe forms of TB. However, it is not as effective at protecting against lung TB infection.
When you have TB, avoiding going out or having close contact with others is vital. Quarantine at home and work with your healthcare provider or local health department to determine when it is safe to leave.
Symptoms of TBinclude a severe cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, fever, weakness, fatigue, chills, and night sweats.The cough can last at least three weeks or longer.Learn MoreTuberculosis: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
Symptoms of TBinclude a severe cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, fever, weakness, fatigue, chills, and night sweats.The cough can last at least three weeks or longer.
Learn MoreTuberculosis: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
The BCG vaccine is 70% to 80% effective at protecting against the most severe forms of TB. However, it is not as effective at protecting against lung TB infection.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About tuberculosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About work-related tuberculosis.World Health Organization.TB prevention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tuberculosis vaccine.Vaccine Knowledge Project.BCG vaccine (TB vaccine).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing tuberculosis.The Department of Health and Human Services.What diseases are subject to Federal isolation and quarantine law?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment for TB disease.US Preventive Services Task Force, Mangione CM, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.JAMA. 2023;329(17):1487-1494. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.4899Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Exposure to tuberculosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.TB risk and people born in or who travel to places where TB is common.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tuberculosis infection control.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs & symptoms of tuberculosis.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About tuberculosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About work-related tuberculosis.World Health Organization.TB prevention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tuberculosis vaccine.Vaccine Knowledge Project.BCG vaccine (TB vaccine).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing tuberculosis.The Department of Health and Human Services.What diseases are subject to Federal isolation and quarantine law?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment for TB disease.US Preventive Services Task Force, Mangione CM, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.JAMA. 2023;329(17):1487-1494. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.4899Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Exposure to tuberculosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.TB risk and people born in or who travel to places where TB is common.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tuberculosis infection control.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs & symptoms of tuberculosis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About tuberculosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About work-related tuberculosis.World Health Organization.TB prevention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tuberculosis vaccine.Vaccine Knowledge Project.BCG vaccine (TB vaccine).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing tuberculosis.The Department of Health and Human Services.What diseases are subject to Federal isolation and quarantine law?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment for TB disease.US Preventive Services Task Force, Mangione CM, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.JAMA. 2023;329(17):1487-1494. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.4899Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Exposure to tuberculosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.TB risk and people born in or who travel to places where TB is common.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tuberculosis infection control.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs & symptoms of tuberculosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About tuberculosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About work-related tuberculosis.
World Health Organization.TB prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tuberculosis vaccine.
Vaccine Knowledge Project.BCG vaccine (TB vaccine).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing tuberculosis.
The Department of Health and Human Services.What diseases are subject to Federal isolation and quarantine law?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment for TB disease.
US Preventive Services Task Force, Mangione CM, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.JAMA. 2023;329(17):1487-1494. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.4899
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Exposure to tuberculosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.TB risk and people born in or who travel to places where TB is common.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tuberculosis infection control.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs & symptoms of tuberculosis.
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