Final answer:
Patients with active tuberculosis may still need to receive dialysis, but it should be administered with strict infection control protocols and possibly in isolation to prevent TB transmission.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients with active tuberculosis (TB) require special precautions to prevent the spread of TB bacteria to others. In the context of dialysis in an outpatient setting, it is crucial to adhere to infection control protocols. While wearing a respiratory mask does offer some level of protection, it is not solely sufficient to safeguard against the risk of transmission in a healthcare setting.
Typically, patients with active TB are isolated until they are deemed non-infectious by healthcare professionals, which usually follows a period of effective anti-TB treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides specific guidelines for TB isolation and containment, including the possible use of special isolation rooms with negative air pressure to limit the spread of airborne particles.
Dialysis patients with active TB may still receive the necessary treatment but would need to do so in a setting that both protects the public and meets their healthcare needs. The decision to treat a patient with active TB in an outpatient unit would be made in coordination with TB control professionals and by thoroughly assessing the risks and implementing stringent infection control measures.