I work in a jail An inmate came in stating he was exposed to T.B. and has been coughing up blood. This information was given to the clinic on 09/15/14. I met with him in a small cement room on the 18th . He told me he had not been seen by medical at this time even though it was reported on intake and he had been coughing up blood and told them he was exposed to T.B.. I m very concerned as he was diagnosed through needle T.B. test which he tested positive on 10/03/14. He is now in isolation and the clinic is going to take a chest x ray. Help me please as I feel I may have been exposed ?
HelloAerosol or airborne infection is the most common rout of TUBERCULOSIS infection. No doubt you remained with a tubercular patient with cough and blood in sputum (his sputum may have AFC but not necessary as blood test was positive) but you didn't share anything with that patient i.e. eating, sharing clothes, sleeping on common bed. As I have noted in so many patients that even common sharing a room does not spread infection to partners. Above all your immunity also high, so need not worry. According to my experience I can say that you didn't got infection. But keep watch about, cough, fever, anorexia, weight loss for next one month. Good luck.