I was exposed to TB at Children's Hospital in Washington DC and it was only because I was seeking a part-time job at another hospital while in grad school that

I was exposed to TB at Children's Hospital in Washington DC and it was only because I was seeking a part-time job at another hospital while in grad school that I became aware. Got the bubble at the public health department and by the time I drove 40 minutes home, I was clearly positive, so off to Children's I went to have the test read. Because I was a volunteer, I was able to be xrayed immediately and prescribed drugs to take for 9 months. And then, of course, the hospital came after me for the cost of the xray, arguing that I could have been exposed shopping at Talbot's. I was not surprised to have been exposed. I volunteered a lot of hours in the Children's ED so I had much greater exposure than other people my age who were doing whatever you do when you're 30. I think the doctors and nurses were surprised that I did not freak out and docs to this day are a little surprised I didn't. It was inactive and I was diligent taking the meds. All this said, the point is that more needs to be done in the US, particularly when we know where the greatest exposure happens.