16721 Tuberculosis

Course overview

Discussion of tuberculosis (TB), including the pathophysiology of TB infection, patient-specific characteristics that could affect disease acquisition and progression, the presentation of both latent and active TB infection, pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of treating TB, and given a patient case, develop the most appropriate therapeutic plan and resolve potential drug therapy problems. TB is a communicable disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and is a serious infection, causing death in 1.4 million individuals worldwide in 2019. Worldwide, it is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, ranking above HIV and AIDS deaths. TB may occur in all age groups, however, it disproportionally affects certain populations, such as racial or ethnic minority groups and individuals with comorbid conditions. Approximately 25% of the worlds population is infected with M. tuberculosis. TB is both preventable and curable. It is crucial that healthcare settings have in place an infection control plan to ensure prompt detection of infectious TB patients, initiation of airborne precautions, and treatment of individuals who have suspected or confirmed TB disease. Nurses and other healthcare providers must be aware of the clinical presentation of TB, the differences between active and latent TB infection, and current treatment recommendations for TB infection. This program provides an overview of TB and discusses epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, latent versus active TB, clinical presentation, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for TB.