Gregory Chandler, Attorney at Law, on the Risk Factors for Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is attempting to make a comeback in the United States of America. Some people are more likely to be exposed to TB, or more likely to get infected if they are exposed. The following persons or groups are at higher risk than the general population of exposure and/or infection with TB.

1. Close contacts of a person with active untreated TB,

2. Foreign-born persons from areas of the world with high rates of TB: Asia, Africa, South America and Central America, and the Caribbean.

3. People who live in group environments such as long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, hotels for the indigent, prisons, and jails.

4. Homeless persons,

5. Injecting drug users and alcoholics,

6. The elderly,

7. HIV infected or otherwise having a compromised immune system including persons with
cancers of the blood or lymph, insulin-dependent diabetes, silicosis of the lung, dialysis
patients, children under 4 years of age, malnourished individuals and people who
receive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and cortisone drugs,

8. Health care workers,

9. Persons who have converted his or her PPD test within the past two years.

If you are in one or more of the listed groups, make sure you undergo a TB test.


GREGORY CHANDLER, Attorney at Law