The Interdepartmental Working Group on Tuberculosis: The prevention and control of tuberculosis in the United Kingdom

General guidance on tuberculosis control and detailed guidance on the treatment of tuberculosis are published elsewhere. (See document references) Although HIV-related and drug-resistant tuberculosis are separate issues they involve similar considerations and are covered together in this guidance. The key elements in the control of tuberculosis are prompt recognition, confirmation and treatment of cases and institution of appropriate infection control measures to reduce airborne spread of infection from infectious patients to others. The teamwork between primary and secondary care staff to achieve this is discussed in this document. The guidance aims to minimise the risk of transmission of tuberculosis in HIV settings and of drug resistant TB especially in healthcare settings. The factors, which are reported as having previously contributed to the transmission of infection, are listed and guidance on addressing them is included. The guidance states that as a general principle all patients with suspected or confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis should be considered potentially infectious until proven otherwise and patients with potentially infectious tuberculosis and those with HIV should not mix. The guidance should support local tuberculosis control plans based on risk assessment and the number and type of isolation facilities, which may be required. The guidance also addresses measures for the protection of health care workers and other contacts. See also HSC 1998/196 http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Healthservicecirculars/DH_4004375