Tuberculosis (TB) is on the rise. An estimated 10 to 15 million people in the United States are infected. This resurgence poses a challenge to all health care providers, including home health care professionals, where many patients fall into the "high risk" category. Therefore it is urgent that home health care agencies look at their prevention and control measures and ensure that guidelines are current for preventing the transmission of TB. Most importantly, there should be comprehensive TB education for all staff. With this knowledge, home health staff can assist in the early identification and treatment of patients with this debilitating disease.
