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Tuberculosis - Oral Health Care Considerations

  • Establish presence or absence of active disease.

  • Consider a patient as infectious if they have a positive sputum sample of for acid-fast bacilli and/or within the first 3 weeks of starting therapy for active TB.

  • Patients with 3 negative sputum samples collected within 24 hours is considered non-infectious.

  • Patients with active pulmonary or laryngeal disease: only perform emergency dental care. Avoid aerosol-generating procedures.

  • Patients with non-active pulmonary or laryngeal disease (history of TB or with a positive PPD but without signs and symptoms): no contraindications for dental care.

  • Refer patients with signs and symptoms of TB to a physician for evaluation.

  • Be aware of reduced efficacy of ketoconazole, fluconazole, diazepam, and glucocorticosteroids in patients taking rifampin.

    ⚠️ Avoid acetaminophen-containing medication for patients taking rifampin as this combination of medications may increase liver toxicity.


    Medical Complexity Status - Tuberculosis#

    TuberculosisMCS1C
    Anticipated
    complication
    Controlled/
    stable
     HemostasisNone
     Microbial
     susceptibility
    None
     Drugs/ drug
     interactions
    Major
     Stress/traumaNone

    See Medical Complexity Status for more information.


Related Pages#

References/Websites#