Explanation of

Disease
Etiology: Tuberculosis comes from a
bacterium called mycobacterium
tuberculosis. This bacterium is rod-shaped
and was discovered by Robert Koch in 1882.
This bacterium is slow growing, can only live
in humans and is aerobic (meaning it needs
oxygen to survive).
Incidence: In 2013, 9 million people in the
world were newly diagnosed with
tuberculosis. Also, in 2013 there were 1.5
million people that died from tuberculosis. In
the United States 9,582 individuals were
diagnosed with tuberculosis, which is a
decline from 2012.
Risk Factors: There is a strong correlation
between a healthy immune system and
fighting off tuberculosis (TB). Meaning, those
who have a healthy immune system tend to
fight off TB more than those who do not have
a healthy immune system. A second risk
factor is traveling to an area where there are
high rates of TB. A third risk factor is poverty
and substance abuse.
Pathophysiology: The first step to getting
TB is inhalation of the infected droplets. The
droplets that contain the M. tuberculosis will
then travel into the pulmonary system and
enter the alveoli. An immune response would
then occur and macrophages would engulf

NCLEX
Questions
1) For which airborne disease(s) would the
nurse be required to use gloves, respiratory
devices, and gown when in close contact
with the client?
A) Herpes simplex, scabies
B) Viral pneumonia, atelectasis
C) Chickenpox, pulmonary tuberculosis
D) Multidrug-resistant respiratory syncytial
virus
2) A nurse is caring for a female client
diagnosed with tuberculosis. Which
assessment, if made by the nurse, is
inconsistent with the usual clinical
presentation of tuberculosis and may
indicate the development of a concurrent
problem?
A) Cough
B) High-grade fever
C) Chills and night sweats
D) Anorexia and weight loss
3) The clients most at risk of reactivation of
latent infections of tuberculosis (TB) are:
A) Immunocompromised persons,
substance abusers, and those with diabetes.
B) Individuals previously treated for TB.
C) Long-term cigarette smokers.
D) Persons with new-onset asthma or
emphysema.
Answers:C,B,A

Tuberculosis

By: Courtney
Wright

Lifespan and
Clinical Manifestations
Significance
Cultural
and Potential
to
When it comes
to TB there are many legal and ethical matters that nurses
are responsible for understanding and practicing when
giving care to patients with TB. On
Considerations
Complications
Nursing

If TB incidences were to increase it would impact nurses greatly. With more TB patients in the working environment nurses would have to put on protective equipme
There are many clinical manifestations of
Racial and Ethnic Groups
are:
coughing therapists,
for three pharmacists, certified nursing assistants, x-ray technicians a
Individuals other than nurses involved in the care of patientstuberculosis,
with TB are some
doctors,
respiratory
When looking at TB in different racial and
consecutive weeks or more, coughing up blood,
ethnic groups it appears that TB is more
chest pain, unintentional weight loss, fatigue,
prominent in certain ones. TB is more common
night sweats and chills.
in blacks than in any other race. In the United
Unfortunately, if tuberculosis (TB) is not treated,
States 2/3 of the TB cases are with African
it can lead to various complications, including
Americans, Hispanics, Asians and individuals
death. Also, if it is not treated it can spread to
from the Pacific Islands. In the United States
various parts of your body. TB has the potential
there is a higher risk for TB in certain
to impair the function of the liver and kidney.
immigrant communities. One example of this
Some other complications are: spinal pain, joint
pain, swelling of the membranes that cover your
was an outbreak of TB contracted by Mexican
brain and heart disorders.
immigrants that worked on a poultry farm in
Delaware.
Age Vs. TB
TB can affect individuals at any age, but the
elderly are the most vulnerable age group.
More than one fourth of all of the TB cases are
individuals over the age of 65. One of the
major reasons that TB tends to affect more
individuals over the age of 65 is because their
immune system becomes weaker with age.
That being said, the body is not able to fight off
the tubercle bacillus. Over the past 10 years
there has been a gradual increase of TB in
children. Children have an undeveloped
immune system resulting in an easy target for

Nursing Diagnoses

1) Imbalanced nutrition less than body

requirements
An outcome that you want to see is for the
patient to weigh within 10% of their ideal body
weight. A second outcome is for the patient to
be able to verbally determine what foods
attribute to his/her weight loss.
2) Impaired gas exchange
The major outcome you want to see is the
patient displaying signs of adequate gas
exchange. Some of these signs are: blood
gases within normal range, usual mental status
and unlabored breathing.
3) Ineffective airway clearance
There are two outcomes you want to see, which
are the secretions being mobilized and the
airway being free of secretions. You can
measure this outcome by clear lung sounds and
eupnea.