HomeThe highest priority should be given to the early diagnosis, prompt isolation of and prompt provision of effective treatment to the source patient. The insidious development of symptoms in most patients with TB commonly results in a delay of weeks or months before the patient presents for diagnosis. At that point, any further delay caused by the physician, nurse or system allows unnecessary transmission to occur. Maintaining an appropriate awareness of TB among health care providers is thus critical to reducing transmission, by enabling them to initiate early diagnosis and treatment.55 Administrative and engineering controls that aim to reduce exposure in healthcare and other congregate settings complement — but cannot replace — prompt diagnosis and appropriate therapy. Methods once thought to be important in preventing the transmission of TB, such as disposing of personal items such as cloths or bedding, sterilizing fomites, using caps and gowns, boiling dishes and washing walls, are unnecessary, because they have no bearing on airborne transmission. Most bacteria that lodge on inanimate objects die quickly through the action of drying, heat or sunlight.2,3
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