Tuberculosis (TB) Isolation

Tuberculosis is an infection that most often affects the lungs. It is caused by germs called bacteria. Anyone can get TB. TB can be spread from person to person through the air when someone with active TB talks, coughs, or sings. It can be difficult to stop TB from spreading to others. TB is not spread through shaking someone’s hand or sharing food or drinking containers. TB can be prevented, treated, and cured.

There are 2 types of tuberculosis, latent and active. Latent TB means the TB germs are in the body but are not causing you to be sick and you cannot spread the TB germs to others. Someone with active TB is sick from the TB germs in their body and has symptoms such as coughing, fever, and night sweats. People with active TB can spread the germs to others.

Your child is in isolation because it is possible, or has been confirmed, that either you or your child may have active TB. We isolate people who have or may have active TB because of the possibility of TB germs spreading to other patients and staff in the hospital. We have many patients who are especially vulnerable to TB. They could become very sick from TB so we take every precaution to prevent its spread.

We isolate patients before TB is confirmed, so that if they do turn out to have active TB, there will not be any chance of them having spread it to others in the hospital. Following these instructions helps others in the hospital stay well by preventing the spread of TB germs.

If there is concern your child has TB, it is possible that the disease was spread to them from an adult in the home or another person they have close contact with. You will need to choose no more than 2 primary caregivers over the age of 18 to be in the hospital with your child. Siblings and other visitors may not be with your child in the hospital. We have these guidelines about who visits your child because we want to be especially careful that no one else gets TB or spreads it throughout the hospital.

• Be in a room with special air pressure settings in the room. Your nurse will coordinate this.
• Stay in the room with the door closed, unless your nurse tells you otherwise.
• Wear an isolation mask if leaving the room to have tests or procedures done.
• Cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Not have any visitors, including siblings, while in the hospital.

• Wear a full head-covering hood, or a special mask if they have been fitted for one. This is to be sure they do not breathe in any TB bacteria or carry it on their clothes outside of the room.
• Ask you and your child to remain in the patient room with the door closed.
• Consider rescheduling any optional appointments or procedures your child may have until the TB isolation has ended.

Both primary caregivers who visit your child in the hospital must have a TB screening. Your child’s providers will tell you where the screening will take place. The TB screening may include:

• Answering questions such as where you have traveled and what kind of work you do
• A blood test
• Having chest X-rays to find out if you have active TB

• Stay in your child’s room at all times to avoid spreading germs, and do not visit any other areas of the hospital. You do not need to wear a mask or respirator in the room.
• Clean your hands well with soap and water or hand gel (in the wall-mounted dispensers) right before leaving the room, put on a mask, and then leave the hospital right away.
• Wear a mask when entering the hospital until you reach your child’s room.
• Not go into other patients’ rooms or allow the families of other patients to come into your child’s room.
• Wash your hands or use hand gel often, especially after you or your child cough, blow your nose or use the bathroom.

• Should not use shared patient spaces like the unit family lounges, linen carts, or supply carts.
• Can use public areas of the hospital such as the cafeteria, visitor bathrooms, gift shop, patios, lobbies, or Starbuck’s coffee shops. Please walk directly from your child’s room to these public spaces without using shared patient spaces on the unit.

• Identify other caregivers to be with your child until you are not contagious.
• Consult with your own primary care provider to get treatment for your TB.

You may have just found out that you or your child has, or may have, TB. You may be feeling confused or worried. This is normal. Your child’s healthcare team is here to help and can answer any questions you may have. We also understand that isolation can be hard on families. Child Life staff can bring toys and activities to your child’s room. Nursing staff can bring you supplies as needed. Room service may be ordered using the phone in your room. Talk to your child’s nurse if you have any other questions or concerns.

The process for ending isolation often involves many steps and the Infection Prevention department must always give final permission. Your child’s healthcare team will let you know when it is OK to come out of isolation.