transporting patients with active TB

[Gurkan Ozel]

Hello again again,


How do you guys handle patients with active TB? Do you see it as an absolute
contraindication?

We have a 72 day old, immunosupressed baby with TB. She has GI problems as
well and she is needed to be transported with her mother accompanying her.
She is *not* intubated, *not* in an isolette or anything. I am not sure if
she can be placed a surical mask on for droplet isolation. The crew will
wear N95 masks, we'll ventilate the cabin as much as we could. It's an 75
minute flight in a rotor wing.


This is only a recent case. We've had other patients with TB in the past as
well. I am trying to put together a guidelines for transporting patients
with communicable diseases. This would include H1N1 as well.


Will you be willing to share your practice guidelines for transporting those
patients? Anyhing specific in regards with the TB patients?


Thanks in advance for your answers,


Gurkan Ozel, BS, EMT-P
Kocoglu Air Ambulance
Ankara, TURKEY