All employees must be screened for tuberculosis (TB), including baseline screening and, for high-risk or exposed employees, annual screening. What statement describes the components of TB education needed for employees identified with a latent TB infection (LTBI)?

• A. LTBI individuals are not contagious; but if they have HIV and a weakened immune system, they are at higher risk of developing active TB. They will have a negative chest X-ray and should be screened annually and report if they develop any respiratory symptoms. They should also be treated to prevent the development of active TB disease.
• B. LTBI individuals are contagious and require airborne isolation.
• C. LTBI cannot be managed and should be left untreated.
• D. LTBI always progresses to active TB within a year.

Answer: (A)

LTBI education emphasizes that infection without symptoms is not contagious, but that certain people, especially those with HIV or weakened immune systems, are at higher risk of progressing to active TB. In LTBI, a negative chest X-ray is typical because there’s no active lung disease, yet ongoing monitoring is important. For employees at high risk or with exposure, annual TB screening helps catch any changes early, and they should be encouraged to promptly report respiratory symptoms such as persistent cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss. Importantly, LTBI can and should be treated to prevent the development of active TB, which is contagious and more difficult to manage. This combination of not being contagious, recognizing higher progression risk in certain individuals, regular screening, symptom reporting, and preventive treatment best captures the needed education.

Other statements mischaracterize LTBI: one suggests LTBI is contagious and requires isolation; another says LTBI cannot be treated; another asserts progression to active TB is guaranteed within a year.