A nursing student develops a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test. A history reveals possible exposure to patients with tuberculosis. A sputum sample is acid-fast negative. When asked for vaccination records, the student reports that childhood vaccination records were lost when the family emigrated from a southeast Asian country. What is the best explanation for the test results?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test indicates exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis or vaccination with BCG, which is commonly used in southeast Asian countries. The negative sputum sample does not rule out infection, as it is possible for the organism to be present in small quantities. The lost vaccination records make it difficult to determine if the student was vaccinated with BCG, but given the possible exposure to tuberculosis patients, it is likely that the positive result is due to exposure rather than vaccination.

A Nursing Student Develops a Positive Reaction to the Tuberculin