MMWR Media Summary

Media Summary

Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment of U.S. Health Care Personnel: Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019

Historically, U.S. health care personnel were at increased risk for latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease from occupational exposures, but recent data suggest that this is no longer the case. CDC and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association have updated the 2005 CDC recommendations for testing health care personnel. The update includes 1) TB risk assessment, symptom screening, and TB testing upon hire with a TB blood test (e.g.,interferon-gamma release assay) or tuberculin skin test for those without documented prior TB or LTBI; 2) no annual TB testing for most health care personnel without a known exposure or ongoing transmission; 3) for health care personnel with LTBI treatment is strongly encouraged; 4) annual symptom screening for health care personnel with untreated LTBI; and 5) annual TB education for all health care personnel. These recommendations apply to health care personnel and volunteers in all health care settings. However, state and local TB screening and testing regulations may have different requirements.

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