Who are we?
Bedfordshire TB Nursing Service is part of the Bedfordshire Community Health Services under East London Foundation NHS Trust. We are a team of specialist Nurses and a TB Service Co-ordinator. We provide expert support and advice in the management and control of TB within the community to reduce the spread of adverse health outcomes of Tuberculosis (TB).
What is TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and curable infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria. It spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze or spit.
TB disease is usually treated with antibiotics and can be fatal without the correct treatment.
What is Latent TB?
Latent TB Infection is when TB bacteria can live in the body without making you feel sick.
The body is able to fight bacteria to stop them from growing for most people who breathe in TB bacteria and have become infected.
About 5-10% of those diagnosed with Latent TB develop Active TB.
The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is given to babies or small children to prevent TB. This is a risk based programme, for babies and children who are more likely to be exposed to TB.
What we do:
- Offer advice and information to service users on TB and its treatment
- Diagnostic investigations such as Chest X-ray, Mantoux (skin test), Sputum samples and T-spot (blood test)
- Support patients and their families who are undergoing TB treatment. We monitor adherence and any adverse drug reactions to help patient’s successfully complete treatment.
- Arrange TB screening for people who may have been in contact with Active TB Disease
- Work collaboratively with UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) to provide screening for contacts who may be a part of outbreaks/incidents of TB exposure
- Co-ordinate patient care with Hospital Respiratory Consultants and other Health and Social Care Providers
- Carry out New Entrant screening for new arrivals from high-risk incidence countries
- Carry out pre-biological screening for those who may be starting biological treatment
- Manage the treatment of Latent TB patients who are carriers of dormant TB
- Oversee the treatment for those diagnosed with having an A-typical Mycobacterium
- Educate healthcare professionals and the general public about TB
The service is delivered by the TB Nurses at:
- Bedford Hospital Outpatients Department and Wards
- Patient’s homes
- Other locations such as schools, colleges, care homes, workplaces and other health care locations within Bedfordshire as required
