I got a real shock last month, when during the process of getting credentialed for return to work in the medical field, I tested positive for tuberculosis. My first thought when seeing the skin reaction was "calm down, you are reading too much into it". In fact, when seeing my doctor, he said it looked possibly positive and his partner said it was probably negative. Next step was a more definitive blood test called the Quantaferon Gold, a test that most health care facilities (including hospitals) require for their workers. At this point I was real concerned because I thought that a positive result may disqualify me from my new job which includes work for a drug device company in the operating room.
Unfortunately that test came back positive too, but I learned that in the absence of clinical symptoms probably meant that I had latent tuberculosis, not active. A chest x-ray and the absence of symptoms did confirm that I did not have active tuberculosis. I will be starting 4 months of antibiotic therapy for latent tuberculosis to get rid of the "sleeping bear" that has been detected inside of me. The diagnosis is now latent TB, I am not bumped from the new job.
So why do I bring this up? As a pharmaceutical rep, we are much more prone to contracting tuberculosis than the general population (General populatin incidence rate for latent TB was 4.2% in 1999-2000 with significantly higher rates in some sub-groups like the indigent, certain ethnic groups, foreigners and health care workers.) The infectious disease doctor that I am seeing now said that my 25 plus years in pharmaceutical sales plus my work in hospitals (I was a hospital rep) and in particular indigent care hospitals made my diagnosis no surprise. I also brought to his attention that I had undergone aggressive therapy for cancer in 2008 and 2009 including working in the hospitals while I was having chemotherapy (and thus immuno-compromised). He said that this would have also put me at high risk for contracting the tuberculosis bug. (Note for those who know me, I am now better than 2.5 years out from my first cancer diagnosis and I am considered to be in complete remission!)
What is surprising to me now, is not the diagnosis but the fact that I have never had routine testing for TB recommended to me or required of me. This is somewhat disturbing considering the nature of our work. While latent TB is often left untreated (approximately 85% of the population with the diagnosis never have it treated), it can convert to active TB at any time. This happens most likely in the first two years after original exposure, but it can happen years after initial exposure. My suggestion is, if you are at high risk - get tested, and treatment is something that should also be considered. You don't want to end up like Doc Holiday (probably the most famous person to have TB - "Tombstone", "Gunfight at the OK Corral", etc.)
Note too that if you have "latent TB" you cannot spread it to others. Your family and friends are safe, but once again it can remain dormant for years and then convert to active. When active it is much harder to treat and eradicate.
Hope this helps others!
Unfortunately that test came back positive too, but I learned that in the absence of clinical symptoms probably meant that I had latent tuberculosis, not active. A chest x-ray and the absence of symptoms did confirm that I did not have active tuberculosis. I will be starting 4 months of antibiotic therapy for latent tuberculosis to get rid of the "sleeping bear" that has been detected inside of me. The diagnosis is now latent TB, I am not bumped from the new job.
So why do I bring this up? As a pharmaceutical rep, we are much more prone to contracting tuberculosis than the general population (General populatin incidence rate for latent TB was 4.2% in 1999-2000 with significantly higher rates in some sub-groups like the indigent, certain ethnic groups, foreigners and health care workers.) The infectious disease doctor that I am seeing now said that my 25 plus years in pharmaceutical sales plus my work in hospitals (I was a hospital rep) and in particular indigent care hospitals made my diagnosis no surprise. I also brought to his attention that I had undergone aggressive therapy for cancer in 2008 and 2009 including working in the hospitals while I was having chemotherapy (and thus immuno-compromised). He said that this would have also put me at high risk for contracting the tuberculosis bug. (Note for those who know me, I am now better than 2.5 years out from my first cancer diagnosis and I am considered to be in complete remission!)
What is surprising to me now, is not the diagnosis but the fact that I have never had routine testing for TB recommended to me or required of me. This is somewhat disturbing considering the nature of our work. While latent TB is often left untreated (approximately 85% of the population with the diagnosis never have it treated), it can convert to active TB at any time. This happens most likely in the first two years after original exposure, but it can happen years after initial exposure. My suggestion is, if you are at high risk - get tested, and treatment is something that should also be considered. You don't want to end up like Doc Holiday (probably the most famous person to have TB - "Tombstone", "Gunfight at the OK Corral", etc.)
Note too that if you have "latent TB" you cannot spread it to others. Your family and friends are safe, but once again it can remain dormant for years and then convert to active. When active it is much harder to treat and eradicate.
Hope this helps others!