Final answer:
The question pertains to handling TB patients outside of Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) rooms, highlighting the need for precautions and measures such as the use of personal protective equipment, patient placement and education, and having an effective TB control program.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'TB patients outside of AII' refers to the management and precautions to be taken with tuberculosis (TB) patients who are not within an Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) room. AII rooms are designed to prevent the spread of infectious agents, such as the TB bacterium, that are transmitted through the air. When a TB patient is not in an AII room, healthcare providers must implement other control measures to minimize the risk of TB transmission. Such precautions may include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), like N95 respirators, ensuring that the patient covers their mouth when coughing, and possibly transferring the patient to a facility that has an available AII room.
Additionally, it is important to conduct a risk assessment to determine the potential for TB transmission to others. This involves evaluating the infectiousness of the patient, the environment in which they are located, and the susceptibility of others in the environment. In some circumstances, TB patients might be placed in a single-patient room with specific air handling and ventilation controls to reduce the spread of the TB bacillus.
Patient education on respiratory hygiene is also an essential aspect of TB control when outside an AII environment. Health facilities must also have a TB control program as part of their infection control strategy, which outlines the procedures for the early detection and isolation of suspected TB cases to reduce the risk of transmission to staff and other patients.