CTP: TB Transmission in workplace

TB transmission in Workplaces

What’s inside:

Read this page to learn how TB spreads inside your workplace 

Introduction:

The global spread ofCovid-19 has highlighted the need for implementing standard infection control precautions and to improve preparedness for pandemic respiratory infections. Preparedness means having infection control activities already in place; many of the same infection control activities will help contain TB as well.

Although this chapter focuses on TB as the prototypical airborne disease, the principles also apply to other respiratory infections.  

Dynamics of TB Spread:

The following must be known in order to fully understand TB transmission.

TB is infectious only when it occurs in the lungs or larynx (thought). TB that occurs elsewhere in the body is usually not infectious, unless the person also has TB in the lungs or larynx at the same time.

Tuberculosis is transmitted mainly through the air via droplet nuclei generated when a TB patient coughs or sneezes. 

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Why TB & Workplace ?:

An employee will be spending an average of 8Hrs / day (48 hrs / week) in their work spaces making them vulnerable for contracting diseases like TB and making them a challenging population for the programme (National TB Elimination Program) to reach.

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Added to all of these, Low BMI, Accessibility to Healthcare, Malnutrition, Smoking, Alcoholism and Tobacco usage can also make a person vulnerable to TB.

What’s inside:

Read this page to find out what steps can be taken to tackle the spread of TB and other airborne infections in the workplace (such as COVID-19, Influenza A H1N1, etc.)

Measures for tackling spread of Airborne Infections (TB, Covid-19, Influenza A H1N1, etc.) inside the organization:

Majorly two line of activities are recommended in controlling spread of Air Borne infection inside a work place:

1. Administrative Control
2. Environmental Control

Administrative Control Strategies:

The main objective of this strategy is to reduce the exposure to diseases like TB inside the workplace by:

1. Reduce the delay in diagnosis so that a person with active TB disease or any airborne infections will not spread the disease inside the workplace. 
2. Reducing airborne transmission of disease to other workers / employees by facilitating continues - awareness, early diagnosis and treatment support activities.    

Following, are the activities recommended under administrative control strategies:

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Environmental Control:

Environmental control majorly includes ventilation (natural and mechanical), installation of easily accessible hand wash areas / hand sanitisation dispensing units inside the facility.

Environmental controls work on the basic principle of dilution of infectious particles through real or ‘effective’ air exchange. In the case of ventilation, that dilution occurs through the introduction of fresh, uninfected air and the removal of infected air.

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Types of ventilation: 

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Any of the above ventilations if appropriatly placed can ensure air exchange inside the closed space and can prevent Air Borne infections like TB to a large extend.

High-risk occupational areas / workplaces like cotton mills, glass, chemical manufacturing, healthcare settings, and weaving industries require adequate ventilation systems because workers spend time indoors exposed to harmful substances for their respiratory systems, which can in turn make them susceptible to tuberculosis.

However, all workplaces shall ensure prevention of overcrowding and adequate ventilation in indoor settings for prevention and control of airborne infections such as TB, Covid-19, etc.

In addition to ventilation measures, hand sanitizer and mask dispensing units should be installed at easily accessible areas.