Final answer:
The CDC recommends postponing elective dental services for patients with symptoms or history indicative of tuberculosis until they have been evaluated and cleared. Dental procedures should be performed with appropriate infection control measures in an appropriately equipped facility. TB infection control includes personal protective equipment, proper room ventilation, and following CDC guidelines.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient presents with symptoms or a history suggestive of tuberculosis (TB), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that elective dental services, such as dental hygiene care, should be postponed until the patient has been medically evaluated and cleared. TB is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is spread through the air when infected persons cough, sneeze, or spit. Given the method of transmission, dental health care professionals are at risk during dental procedures that generate aerosols.
Patients suspected of or known to have TB and needing emergency dental care should be referred to settings equipped with appropriate infection control and respiratory protection measures. Effective TB infection control includes the use of personal protective equipment, proper room ventilation, and other measures as per the latest CDC guidelines. Additionally, directly observed therapy (DOT) can be considered to ensure adherence to antibiotic treatment and to prevent the development of drug-resistant TB strains.
Overall, health care providers should follow the CDC's recommendation and delay elective dental procedures until there's reasonable assurance that the patient does not pose a TB infection risk. This is vital not only for the safety of the dental care team but also to prevent the spread of TB to other patients.