TITLE:
An Unexpected Presentation of Tuberculosis in the Surgical Field with a Preventable Disease Transmission
AUTHORS:
Hector M. Lopez, Paloma M. Lugo, Francisco J. Jacome
KEYWORDS:
Tuberculosis, Transmission, Surgical Field, Prevention
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.9 No.11,
November
26,
2018
ABSTRACT: Tuberculosis (TB) incidence within Healthcare workers remains one of the lowest occupation specific rates in the United States. We report a case of a 33-year-old African American male presented with a right chest mass and without fever, chills or cough. Bacterial and Fungal cultures were sent during the initial visit and were negative throughout the entire management of his care. After several months of surgical interventions, the patient appeared positive for TB; however a staff member contracted the disease. The patient was managed successfully with the four-drug regimen of Isoniazid, Rifampin, Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol and recovered well from his surgeries.