TB Infection Control
Tuberculosis Infection Control in Resource-Limited Settings in the Era of Expanding HIV Care and Treatment: Addendum to WHO Guidelines
Addendum to WHO Guidelines for the Prevention of Tuberculosis in Health Care Facilities in Resource-Limited Settings
WHY THIS ADDENDUM WAS DEVELOPED
The goal of this addendum is to help management and staff
minimize the risk of TB transmission at facilities in resourcelimited settings in which:
• HIV-infected persons receive diagnosis, care, treatment,
and/or support, such as voluntary counseling and testing
centers, clinics for HIV care including primary health care
clinics, antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics, and support
clubs for people living with HIV/AIDS; and
• There is a high prevalence of HIV infection, both known
and undiagnosed, in settings such as prisons, jails, other
detention centers, and drug rehabilitation centers.
In this era of increasing access to HIV counseling and testing, are, and treatment for people living with HIV, more people living with HIV-associated immunosuppression are attending health care and community facilities than ever before. Persons, including health care workers, with HIV-associated immunosuppression are particularly vulnerable to developing TB disease if they become infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis, the germ that can cause TB) as a result of exposure in these settings.
WHO SHOULD USE THIS ADDENDUM
This document is for policy makers, health care workers, administrators, and stake holders in the public, private, and nongovernmental health sector involved in providing care and treatment to persons with HIV/AIDS. It can also be helpful for
persons or institutions responsible for the health and well-being
of large numbers of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Settings include VCT centers, community-based outreach centers, ARV and other HIV care clinics, hospices, general health care facilities, drug rehabilitation centers, and correctional institutions including prisons and jails.
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