AORN JOURNAL
AUGUST 1992, VOL 56, NO 2
Editorial This tuberculosis epidemic cannot be ‘silent’
T
bacteria like TB need to be destroyed. he resurgence of Bacillus tuberculosis (TB) Just three years ago, the Centers for Disease in this country borders on the unbelievable. Control (CDC), Atlanta, published a bold new The richest country in the world can’t seem to strategic plan for the elimination of TB as a eliminate a public health problem known to be, public health problem in this country by the in large part, preventable. As I read the reports year 2010.2 It calls for a three-step action plan of increasing prevalence of TB among our that concentrates on effective use of prevention urban populations, I find myself whispering to and control methods; development and evaluamyself, “This can’t be happening again.” It’s as tion of new treatment, diagnosis, and prevenif polio or the black plague were suddenly ramtion technologies; and rapid transfer of new pant among healthy children. technologies into clinical practice. When I was a school-age child, one of my Since that plan was announced, the incidence aunts died at an early age. I didn’t know for of TB has been climbing despite decades of some time that the cause of her death was TB. declining rates. In 1990, 25,701 cases were In those days, TB was a disease adults were reported, which is a 9.4% increase in one year somewhat ashamed of, and I didn’t know why. and the largest annual increase since 1953.3 I later learned it was considered a disease of the The bacillus (Myobacterium tuberculosis) is poor. resistant to the most effective drugs used to A decade or so later, a cousin was sent away fight TB-isoniazaid and refampin. According to a sanitarium to “rest.” He came back healthy, to the CDC, in the first three months of last but I never knew his “lung problem” was TB year, 42.5% of the new TB cases in New York until one lobe of his lung had to be removed, City were found to be resistant to these drugs. and I overheard my relatives whispering about In many cases, a multidrug regimen of as many his diagnosis and his uncertain prognosis. Why as four drugs is required to keep the secret? the disease in check. Patient comThis country is experiencing the pliance is a must. start of a “silent” epidemic of a It’s been a couple decades since new, multidrug-resistant strain of health care workers had to worry TB. This new strain is attacking about TB transmission. Now, they people infected with the human must learn or relearn basic princiimmunodeficiency virus (HIV), the ples of airborne transmission, early homeless, the foreign-born, the identification and isolation techelderly, and various minority niques for people with active TB, groups.’ This cannot become a and surveillance programs for silent epidemic. Bacteria are not screening and prevention. Every things to be ashamed of. Harmful Pat Niessner Palmer 211
AORN JOURNAL
health care worker should be familiar with the contents of the Guidelines f o r P r e w n t i n g the Transmission of Tubet~culosisin Health-Care Settin
AUGUST 1992, VOL 56, NO 2
Editorial This tuberculosis epidemic cannot be ‘silent’
T
bacteria like TB need to be destroyed. he resurgence of Bacillus tuberculosis (TB) Just three years ago, the Centers for Disease in this country borders on the unbelievable. Control (CDC), Atlanta, published a bold new The richest country in the world can’t seem to strategic plan for the elimination of TB as a eliminate a public health problem known to be, public health problem in this country by the in large part, preventable. As I read the reports year 2010.2 It calls for a three-step action plan of increasing prevalence of TB among our that concentrates on effective use of prevention urban populations, I find myself whispering to and control methods; development and evaluamyself, “This can’t be happening again.” It’s as tion of new treatment, diagnosis, and prevenif polio or the black plague were suddenly ramtion technologies; and rapid transfer of new pant among healthy children. technologies into clinical practice. When I was a school-age child, one of my Since that plan was announced, the incidence aunts died at an early age. I didn’t know for of TB has been climbing despite decades of some time that the cause of her death was TB. declining rates. In 1990, 25,701 cases were In those days, TB was a disease adults were reported, which is a 9.4% increase in one year somewhat ashamed of, and I didn’t know why. and the largest annual increase since 1953.3 I later learned it was considered a disease of the The bacillus (Myobacterium tuberculosis) is poor. resistant to the most effective drugs used to A decade or so later, a cousin was sent away fight TB-isoniazaid and refampin. According to a sanitarium to “rest.” He came back healthy, to the CDC, in the first three months of last but I never knew his “lung problem” was TB year, 42.5% of the new TB cases in New York until one lobe of his lung had to be removed, City were found to be resistant to these drugs. and I overheard my relatives whispering about In many cases, a multidrug regimen of as many his diagnosis and his uncertain prognosis. Why as four drugs is required to keep the secret? the disease in check. Patient comThis country is experiencing the pliance is a must. start of a “silent” epidemic of a It’s been a couple decades since new, multidrug-resistant strain of health care workers had to worry TB. This new strain is attacking about TB transmission. Now, they people infected with the human must learn or relearn basic princiimmunodeficiency virus (HIV), the ples of airborne transmission, early homeless, the foreign-born, the identification and isolation techelderly, and various minority niques for people with active TB, groups.’ This cannot become a and surveillance programs for silent epidemic. Bacteria are not screening and prevention. Every things to be ashamed of. Harmful Pat Niessner Palmer 211
AORN JOURNAL
health care worker should be familiar with the contents of the Guidelines f o r P r e w n t i n g the Transmission of Tubet~culosisin Health-Care Settin
