Health Center Screening for Possible TB Exposure

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Pat Walker Health Center at the University of Arkansas is cooperating with the Arkansas Department of Health to screen a small number of students, faculty and staff who may have been exposed to tuberculosis during the fall semester. Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The 40 individuals who may be at risk for this exposure have been contacted and are being screened at Pat Walker Health Center. They will not be charged for the cost of the screening. So far, no additional active cases of TB have been discovered.

“The health department initiated the screening after identifying an individual and treating that individual for tuberculosis, said Mary Alice Serafini, executive director of Pat Walker Health Center. “As a result of this treatment, this individual can no longer possibly expose anyone to TB. Health Department investigators have determined that a small number of people may have been exposed to the disease, and they are being screened. If any of those people test positive for TB they will also be treated. So far that has not been necessary, and we don’t expect it to be. The Health Department has determined, and we agree, that this is not a public health danger.

“The health and safety of our campus community is our primary concern,” Serafini said.

The Centers for Disease Control states: “TB is NOT spread by shaking someone’s hand, sharing food or drink, touching bed linens or toilet seats, sharing toothbrushes and/or kissing.” To contract tuberculosis, one would need to be in close contact with an infected individual for an extended period of time. It is far easier to contract a cold or a cough than tuberculosis.

“Having a positive TB test does not mean that the person has tuberculosis disease,” said Ed Barham, spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Health. “It means that he or she has been infected in the past. This infection is usually called Latent TB infection and is not communicable. Only about ten per cent of people who have been infected develop TB during their lifespan. Latent TB can be treated with medication to prevent the risk of developing the disease later in life.”“All of the individuals who may have been exposed have been contacted and have been very cooperative,” said Lyn Edington, nurse manager at the Pat Walker Health Center. “The main thing for people to understand is that this is a precautionary process following a single case, and we are not dealing with any type of outbreak. We are grateful to our students, faculty and staff for their understanding and cooperation, and to the state Department of Health for their prompt and thorough action.” 

“Having a positive TB test does not mean that the person has tuberculosis disease. It means that he or she has been infected in the past. This infection is usually called Latent TB infection (LTBI) and is not communicable. Only about ten per cent of people who have been infected develop TB during their lifespan. LTBI can be treated with medication to prevent the risk of developing the disease later in life.”

For more information, call the Pat Walker Health Center, 479-575-4451.