Can patients with active TB be treated at our facility safely when proper precautions are taken?

The reasoning behind the answer that patients with active tuberculosis (TB) should not be treated at the facility lies in the highly contagious nature of the disease. Active TB spreads primarily through airborne particles when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This means that, even with precautions, the risk of transmission to other patients, staff, and visitors is significantly high.

In facilities not specifically equipped for managing infectious diseases like active TB, the measures required to ensure the safety of all individuals can be inadequate. Isolation protocols and specialized air handling systems are essential to effectively manage such cases, which typical facilities may lack. Therefore, under standard circumstances, the presence of active TB poses a considerable health risk, justifying the conclusion that it should not be treated in most healthcare settings without the necessary infrastructure and protocols in place.

This is why the consideration of other options, such as treating only in emergency situations or limited to symptomatic cases, also does not address the fundamental risk of contagion associated with active TB in a general medical facility.