Tuberculosis (TB) is often thought of as a disease of the past, but recent data shows it is once again becoming a significant public health concern in the UK.
After years of declining incidence, tuberculosis notifications in England have risen sharply for two consecutive years, prompting concern among clinicians, infection prevention teams, and public health officials. In March 2025, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned that TB is “on the rise again” and called for renewed action to prevent further spread.
For NHS hospitals already managing high occupancy levels, respiratory infection pressures, and limited side-room availability, the resurgence of TB presents a serious operational challenge.
This is where the ShareGuard99 Patient Isolation System from CLS Surgical offers a practical, cost-effective solution, enabling hospitals to isolate infectious patients safely at the bedside, even when dedicated isolation rooms are unavailable.
TB in England: A growing public health concern
According to UKHSA, there were 5,480 tuberculosis notifications in England in 2024, up from 4,850 in 2023, a 13% increase in a single year and the highest annual rise since national surveillance began in the late 1990s.
The national TB notification rate reached 9.4 cases per 100,000 population, bringing England close to the World Health Organization’s threshold for losing its “low incidence” status. In its report TB Surge: Is England About to Lose Its Low-Incidence Status?, BMJ noted that the recent increase represents a significant reversal of progress made over previous decades.
Regional hotspots
TB remains most prevalent in:
- London
- The West Midlands
- Other large urban centres
According to the UKHSA, London reported the highest rate in England at 20.6 cases per 100,000 population, more than double the national average.
Why are we seeing such a rise in Tuberculosis cases?
Public health experts have pointed to several contributing factors to the rise in TB cases in the UK. Some of the most common include:
1. Post-pandemic diagnostic delays
Disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic led to delays in diagnosis, treatment, and contact tracing. This, therefore, has allowed TB cases to increase and spread relatively undetected. As TB is an infection caused by bacteria that mainly affects the lungs, and symptoms are relatively similar to that of the flu or COVID-19, such as a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, high temperatures and loss of appetite, it was often misdiagnosed. Individuals with TB who are unaware they have this disease, can then spread this when someone with TB in their lungs or throat coughs or sneezes.
2. Global migration patterns
Many cases occur in individuals born in countries with higher TB prevalence. In 2024, 81.9% of TB notifications in England were in people born outside the UK.
3. Vulnerable and at-risk groups
In instances where an individual with TB was born in the UK (18.5%), research has shown there is a clear link between TB and deprivation, including those who experience:
- Homelessness
- Poverty
- Overcrowded housing
- Substance misuse or dependency
- Immunosuppression
- Have had contact with the criminal justice system
4. Rising UK-born cases
Notifications among UK-born individuals increased by 5% in 2024, demonstrating that TB is not confined to one demographic group. This means a plan is needed to tackle TB and prevent the spread across all demographics throughout the UK.
How tuberculosis spreads
As we know, pulmonary tuberculosis spreads through airborne droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. The particles then remain suspended in the air for extended periods, particularly in poorly ventilated areas. In a healthcare environment, delayed isolation of TB patients increases the risk of transmissions to other patients, clinical staff and visitors to the hospital.
This is why it is imperative that hospitals have enough isolation facilities available to effectively isolate patients and reduce the risk of further spread and ward outbreaks.
The impact on UK hospitals
The rise in TB has significant implications for hospital operations.
Increased demand for isolation rooms
Patients with suspected or confirmed pulmonary TB require prompt airborne isolation. Many NHS hospitals have a finite number of single rooms with negative pressure or enhanced ventilation. During periods of high occupancy, these rooms may already be occupied by patients with COVID-19, flu, RSV or other infectious diseases.
Many UK hospitals do not have the infrastructure or budget to add extra side rooms to isolate patients, so when a patient with suspected TB presents and no side room is available, infection prevention teams need a safe alternative.
Delayed patient flow
When no side rooms are available, admissions may be delayed and bed management becomes more complex.
Staff exposure and occupational health costs
Potential exposures trigger staff screening, occupational health reviews, and potential workforce disruption if they contract the disease and then need time off, putting further strain on the hospital due to reduced staff.
Outbreak risk
Undetected TB in shared wards can lead to extensive contact tracing and reputational impact.
Financial pressure
Each additional day awaiting isolation consumes valuable bed capacity and increases costs.
A simple solution: ShareGuardd99, bedside isolation without requiring a side room
Where hospitals are struggling with infection prevention and control measures, due to a lack of isolation rooms and facilities in hospitals, this is where the ShareGuard99 presents the ideal, cost-effective solution.
The ShareGuard99 Bedside Patient Isolation System allows hospitals to create a contained isolation environment around the patient’s bed or trolly. This enables suspected or confirmed TB patients to be managed safely in open wards/units, assessment units, A & E and escalation areas when dedicated isolation rooms are unavailable.
The ShareGuard99’s innovative design traps aerosols and droplets generated by the infected patients within the attached canopy, while the machine purifies the air. It is fully compatible with other care equipment, such as oxygen therapy and patient monitoring devices, too.
Designed specifically for healthcare settings, ShareGuard99 helps contain respiratory pathogens around the patient while maintaining visibility, accessibility, and workflow efficiency for clinical staff.
Why ShareGuard99 is ideal for TB and other airborne respiratory infections
- Rapid deployment – The system can be installed quickly over an existing bed space and attaches to all standard sized hospital beds easily.
- Enhanced infection control – Provides a physical containment barrier to reduce exposure to airborne respiratory pathogens.
- Preserves bed capacity – Allows continued use of shared clinical areas rather than delaying admission.
- Supports operational flow – Reduces bottlenecks associated with waiting for scarce side rooms.
- Cost-effective – Provides isolation capability without major capital works or infrastructure changes.
- Flexible use – Suitable for TB, influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and other respiratory infections.
- Ease of use – The ShareGuard99 is easy to use and low maintenance. Simply attach to the hospital bed, cover the patient with the disposable hood and switch on the machine. It can be used as long as needed, and the filter lasts 6 months.
Supporting NHS priorities
ShareGuard99 helps hospitals:
- Improve infection prevention and control
- Protect staff and patients
- Increase resilience during respiratory surges
- Optimise bed utilisation
- Reduce dependence on limited side-rooms
For infection prevention leads, operational managers, and procurement professionals, it provides a straightforward way to strengthen both patient safety and hospital efficiency.
A smarter isolation strategy for modern hospitals
Tuberculosis is a curable disease, but controlling its spread requires prompt identification and effective isolation. As TB notifications rise and hospitals continue to operate under intense capacity pressures, relying solely on fixed side rooms is increasingly impractical.
ShareGuard99 enables hospitals to expand isolation capability rapidly and cost-effectively, protecting staff, safeguarding patients, and maintaining critical bed capacity.
Find out more about ShareGuard99
If you’re hospital is struggling with infection control and a rise in TB cases, get in touch with our team today to see how we can support you. We can explain how the ShareGuard99 Patient Isolation System can support your hospital’s infection prevention strategy for tuberculosis and other respiratory infections.
The CLS Surgical team can provide product specifications, implementation guidance, and expert advice on integrating ShareGuard99 into your hospital’s infection control and capacity management plans. Email us at customerservice@clssurgical.com, call us: 0151 733 1900, or fill in our online enquiry form.