What are the precautions recommended for the contacts of HIV-infected individuals suffering from TB disease?
Precautions to be practised are similar to those recommended for contacts of TB patients. Contacts should be screened for TB; if found to be suffering from TB they should receive fully supervised or directly observed short-course treatment. For young children aged 0-5 years with no TB, hemoprophylaxis or preventive therapy with isoniazid should be given for six months, followed by BCG vaccination if they remain PPD-negative or if a PPD cannot be done. Prompt treatment of infectious cases reduces spread of tuberculosis Smear-positive usually seek care. Smear-positive patients are 4-20 times more infectious. Untreated, a smear-positive patient may infect 10-15 persons/ year. Smear-positive patients are much more likely to die if untreated.
