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Ventilation systems (including natural, mixed-mode,
mechanical ventilation, and recirculated air through
high-efficiency particulate air [HEPA] filters) are
recommended to reduce M. tuberculosis transmission to
health workers, persons attending health care facilities or
other persons in settings with a high risk of transmission.
Prompt initiation of effective treatment of
people with TB disease is recommended
to reduce M. tuberculosis transmission to
health workers, persons attending health care
settings or other persons in settings with a
high risk of transmission.
Respiratory separation / isolation of people
with presumed or demonstrated infectious TB
is recommended to reduce M. tuberculosis
transmission to health workers or other
persons attending health care facilities.
The panel recommends that materials and equipment to perform appropriate hand hygiene
should be readily available at the point of care.
The panel recommends that the following elements should be adhered to in order to reduce
the risk of HAIs and the spread of AMR: bed occupancy should not exceed the standard
capacity of the facility; and healthcare worker staffing levels should be adequately assigned
according to patient workload.
National level: The panel recommends that national HAI surveillance programmes and networks that include
mechanisms for timely data feedback, with the potential to be used for benchmarking
purposes, should be established to reduce HAIs and AMR.
Health care facility level: The panel recommends that facility-based HAI surveillance should be performed to guide IPC
interventions and detect outbreaks, including AMR. Surveillance with timely feedback of results to healthcare workers and stakeholders is essential and should be carried out through national networks.
Health care facility level: The panel recommends that IPC education should be in place for all healthcare workers
by utilizing team- and task-based strategies that are participatory and include bedside and
simulation training to reduce the risk of HAIs and AMR.
Triage of people with TB signs and
symptoms, or with TB disease, is
recommended to reduce M. tuberculosis
transmission to health workers, persons
attending health care facilities or other
persons in settings with a high risk
of transmission.
Xpert MTB/RIF may be used as a replacement test for usual practice (including conventional
microscopy, culture or histopathology) for testing specific non-respiratory specimens (lymph
nodes and other tissues) from patients suspected of having extrapulmonary TB.