Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Nursing Insights on Diagnosis, Care, and Prevention

This episode takes a deep dive into pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), one of the world’s most significant infectious diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We’ll explore its pathophysiology and transmission, including why infection often remains latent but can progress to active disease when immunity is weakened. Listeners will learn to recognize hallmark clinical symptoms—such as a chronic cough, night sweats, and weight loss—and understand the diagnostic tools used in practice, including chest x-rays, skin tests, and sputum cultures for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Finally, we’ll discuss the importance of long-term, multi-drug treatment regimens, infection control strategies, and how nurses play a pivotal role in ensuring adherence and preventing the spread of drug-resistant TB.