Are routine chest x-rays recommended for health care workers, patients or institutional residents with a history of a positive tuberculin skin test result?
No, people who have a positive tuberculin skin test result should not have repeat chest radiographs performed routinely. Health care workers, patients or institutional residents with a baseline positive or newly positive tuberculin skin test result should receive one chest radiograph to exclude a diagnosis of TB disease. Afterwards, repeat radiographs are not needed unless signs or symptoms of TB develop, or a clinician recommends a repeat chest radiograph, or after a new exposure to M. tuberculosis. On a regular basis, the person in charge of infection control for their work area should ask about any signs or symptoms of TB disease instead of giving additional tuberculin skin tests. The frequency of their symptom screen should be determined by the risk assessment for the facility. Health care workers who have a previously positive tuberculin skin test result and who change jobs should carry documentation of the results of their tuberculin skin test, chest radiograph and documentation
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