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 in combination with possible exposure to patients with tuberculosis suggests that the student has been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The negative sputum sample indicates that the infection is not active. The absence of vaccination records and the family's origin in a Southeast Asian country suggest that the student may have been vaccinated with BCG vaccine, which can also cause a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test. Therefore, the best explanation for the test results is that the student has been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis or was vaccinated with BCG vaccine.

A Nursing Student Develops a Positive Reaction to the Tuberculin