Observe hygiene measures. For people who are often in contact with tuberculosis patients: frequent hand washing, wearing a mask if necessary.

Take care of your health. Eat a healthy and balanced diet, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, avoid being under chronic stress, etc. This offers the best chance of having a strong immune system. For more information, see our sheet Strengthening your immune system and our Living healthy section.

Detect and treat latent infection. People who work in high-risk environments or who have been in prolonged contact with an active patient may experience skin test in order to detect the presence of the bacteria in the body (see the description of the test in the section Medical treatments). If the result is positive, preventive treatment with antibiotics usually helps prevent the disease from occurring. This preventive treatment is simpler and requires the use of fewer drugs than to treat active tuberculosis. Check with your doctor or the competent authorities in your workplace.

Advice for infected people to prevent contagion

To be observed during the 2 or 3 weeks of treatment:

• Stay at home as much as possible;
• Provide adequate ventilation;
• Wear a mask in public.