LAUSR

T UBERCULOSIS (TB) disease surveillance and control are important public health priorities in the US and abroad. Globally, TB disease burden remains highest in some regions of Asia and Africa, but global incidence rates have been declining.1,2 In the US, the incidence of TB has steadily declined for decades,3 but surveillance continues to be essential in mitigating potential TB epidemics. A growing population of older adults, immigration from countries with a high prevalence of TB infection, and an enduring population of immunocompromised individuals such as those with HIV infection put the US at increased risk for a TB epidemic. This article presents a general overview of TB in adults and discusses the role of nurses in prevention and surveillance.