Positive Follow-up

Surveillance is necessary for those with a positive test result and recovered TB patients with a positive x-ray. Once a patient is in Surveillance status, TSTs are no longer administered.

1. Perform a baseline chest x-ray if one is not available. Record the date and result in the CXR field and its adjacent Comment field.
2. Check Recent Converter if the patient has had negative TST in the past but is now positive.
3. If the x-ray shows no infection in the lungs, continue to monitor for symptoms by having the employee complete a questionnaire at appropriate intervals. Each time a questionnaire is completed, record the event by creating a new record with a Reason of QUEST.
   1. If the patient reports no symptoms, enter “None reported” in the Report on Symptoms field. Create a recall record for the next follow-up questionnaire.
   2. If the patient reports symptoms, check the Symptoms box, enter the date symptoms appeared, and describe in Report on Symptoms. Schedule medical treatment. Record treatment under Injury/Illness. If the case is not referred out, create an Injury record and enter an ID in the Injury ID field (under Positive Surveillance). If the case is referred out, indicate Staff ID in Referral field.