Health officials determine Purdue student has tuberculosis

March 18, 2005

Health officials determine Purdue student has tuberculosis

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue student has been diagnosed with an active case of tuberculosis, and university and Tippecanoe County health officials have begun the process of testing approximately 100 people who may have had close contact with the patient.

The infected patient, who is a graduate student living off campus, has been in isolation and undergoing treatment since Friday (March 11), when a clinical evaluation determined the person likely had tuberculosis, said James S. Westman, director of Purdue's Student Health Center. Test results confirming the diagnosis were received on Monday (March 14), he said.

Tuberculosis is only contagious when the pulmonary disease is in its active phase and is usually spread when germs are released into the air by coughing. Those exposed usually do not develop the active form of the disease for three to six months, if ever, Westman said.

Marcia Muller, Tippecanoe County Health Department public health nurse in charge of tuberculosis control, said, "Tuberculosis is contagious, but it's not extremely contagious. TB is a slow-growing bacillus, and people can be exposed and never show active signs of the disease. By taking appropriate antibiotic medications, the probability of an exposure progressing to active disease is close to zero."

Westman said the infected student had previously undergone tests at the Student Health Center.

"A definitive diagnosis was difficult in this case," he said. "During the course of the evaluation, there were conflicting test results. Tests did not confirm the disease until a few days ago."

Muller said the fact that the student sought early treatment makes this case more manageable.

"If diagnosed early, patients don't stay contagious for as long as if diagnosed later," she said. "This person was caught early in the process, so they probably won't remain contagious and in isolation for very long."

Muller said the infected student is being monitored and treated by health department personnel.

The Student Health Center and County Health Department are in the process of determining individuals who may have been in close contact with the patient. Those people will be notified and asked to undergo an initial skin test to check for exposure to tuberculosis.

If both the initial test and a follow-up test three months later yield negative results, the tuberculosis-causing bacteria is not present, Muller said. If any individual test results are positive, those people will be encouraged to begin a preventative therapy that includes taking an antibiotic.

"TB is generally a treatable illness, and we are doing everything possible to track down those who may have been exposed," Westman said. "For those who have been exposed and present evidence of TB infection, taking the antibiotic as directed will kill the germ that causes tuberculosis and prevent progression to the active form of the disease."

The last confirmed case of active tuberculosis involving a Purdue student occurred in 1996.

Writer: Brian Zink, (765) 494-2080, bzink@purdue.edu

Sources: James S. Westman, (765) 494-1720, westman@purdue.edu

Marcia Muller, (765) 423-9222

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Related information:
Facts about tuberculosis

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