From the Guidelines
Masks are required for tuberculosis patients and their visitors to prevent the spread of the infectious disease, as stated in the guidelines for preventing the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health-care facilities 1. Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria that primarily affect the lungs and spread through airborne transmission when infected individuals cough, sneeze, speak, or breathe. Patients wear masks when leaving their isolation rooms to protect others from potentially infectious respiratory droplets, while visitors wear masks in the patient's room to protect themselves from exposure. This practice is part of airborne infection control measures in healthcare settings.
Key Points
- Tuberculosis bacteria can remain suspended in the air for hours, and infection can occur by inhaling even a small number of these organisms 1.
- Special respirators like N95 masks are typically used rather than standard surgical masks because they provide better filtration of the tiny airborne particles 1.
- Visitors to TB patients should be given respirators to wear while in isolation rooms, and they should be given general instructions on how to use their respirators 1.
- These precautions remain necessary until the patient has received effective tuberculosis treatment (typically including medications like isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide) for a sufficient time to reduce infectiousness, usually at least two weeks of appropriate therapy with clinical improvement.
Airborne Infection Control
The guidelines for preventing the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health-care facilities emphasize the importance of personal respiratory protection for individuals entering rooms where patients with known or suspected infectious TB are being isolated 1. This includes healthcare workers, visitors, and anyone who may be exposed to the patient's respiratory droplets. By wearing masks, these individuals can reduce their risk of inhaling infectious airborne droplet nuclei and prevent the spread of the disease.
From the Research
Reason for Requiring Masks
- The primary reason for requiring patients hospitalized with tuberculosis (TB) to wear masks when leaving their rooms and their visitors to wear masks while in the room is to reduce the transmission of TB 2.
- Studies have shown that surgical face masks can significantly reduce the transmission of TB, with a 56% decreased risk of TB transmission when patients use masks 2.
- The use of masks is particularly important in healthcare settings, where the risk of TB transmission is higher due to the presence of infectious patients and the potential for airborne transmission 3, 4, 5.
Mechanism of Transmission
- TB is transmitted through the air when an infectious person coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing droplets that contain the bacteria 4, 5.
- These droplets can be inhaled by others, allowing the bacteria to enter the lungs and cause infection 4, 5.
- Masks can help to filter out these droplets, reducing the risk of transmission 2, 6.
Importance of Mask-Wearing
- Mask-wearing is an important measure for reducing the transmission of TB in healthcare settings 3, 4, 5.
- It is particularly important for healthcare workers, who are at higher risk of contracting TB due to their close contact with infectious patients 4, 5.
- Visitors to TB patients should also wear masks to reduce their risk of contracting the disease 3, 4, 5.