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Core Curriculum Slides

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The documents listed below are historical, archived information. The information contained in these documents, while accurate at the time of release, may not be the most current available.

Introduction

Slide 1 (Title slide): Core Curriculum on Tuberculosis.
Graphic of a globe.

Slide 2: Core Curriculum Contents

  • Inroduction
  • Transmission and Pathogenesis
  • Epidemiology of Tuberculosis (TB) in the US
  • Testing for TB Disease and Infection
  • Diagnosis of TB
  • Treatment of Latent TB Infection
  • Diagnosis of TB
  • Treatment of Latent TB Infection (LTBI)
  • Treatment of TB Disease
  • Infection Control in Health Care Settings
  • BCG Vaccination
  • Community TB Control

Slide 3 (Chapter title slide): Introduction

Slide 4: Areas of Concern

  • TB cases continue to be reported in every state

  • Drug-resistant cases reported in almost every state

  • Estimated 10-15 million persons in U.S. infected with M. tuberculosis

    • Without intervention, about 10% will develop TB disease at some point in life

Transmission and Pathogenesis

Slide 5 (Chapter title slide): Transmission and Pathogenesis
This graphic depicts the transmission of TB. The dots in the air surrounding two people represent droplet nuclei containing tubercle bacilli.

Slide 6: Transmission of M. tuberculosis

  • Spread by droplet nuclei

  • Expelled when person with infectious TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings

  • Close contacts at highest risk of becoming infected

  • Transmission occurs from person with infectious TB disease (not latent TB infection)

Slide 7: Probability TB Will Be Transmitted

  • Infectiousness of person with TB

  • Environment in which exposure occurred

  • Duration of exposure

  • Virulence of the organism

Slide 8: Pathogenesis

  • 10% of infected persons with normal immune systems develop TB at some point in life

  • HIV strongest risk factor for development of TB if infected

    • Risk of developing TB disease 7% to 10% each year

  • Certain medical conditions increase risk that TB infection will progress to TB disease

Slide 9: Conditions That Increase the Risk of Progression to TB Disease

  • HIV infection

  • Substance abuse

  • Recent infection

  • Chest radiograph findings suggestive of previous TB

  • Diabetes mellitus

  • Silicosis

  • Prolonged corticosteroid therapy

  • Other immunosuppressive therapy

Slide 10: Conditions That Increase the Risk of Progression to TB Disease (cont.)

  • Cancer of the head and neck

  • Hematologic and reticuloendothelial diseases

  • End-stage renal disease

  • Intestinal bypass or gastrectomy

  • Chronic malabsorption syndromes

  • Low body weight (10% or more below the ideal)

Slide 11: Common Sites of TB Disease

  • Lungs

  • Pleura

  • Central nervous system

  • Lymphatic system

  • Genitourinary systems

  • Bones and joints

  • Disseminated (miliary TB)

Slide 12: Drug-Resistant TB

  • Drug-resistant TB transmitted same way as drug-susceptible TB

  • Drug resistance is divided into two types:

    • Primary resistance develops in persons initially infected with resistant organisms

    • Secondary resistance (acquired resistance) develops during TB therapy

Slide 13: Classification System for TB (chart)
Class: 0; Type: No TB exposure. Not infected; Description: No history of exposure. Negative reaction to tuberculin skin test.
Class: 1; Type: TB exposure. No evidence of infection; Description: History of exposure. Negative reaction to tuberculin skin test.
Class: 2; Type: TB infection. No disease; Description: Positive reaction to tuberculin skin test. Negative bacteriologic studies (if done). No clinical, bacteriological, or radiographic evidence of active TB.
Class: 3; Type: TB, clinically active; Description: M. tuberculosis cultured (if done). Clinical, bacteriological, or radiographic evidence of current disease.
Class: 4; Type: TB. Not clinically active; Description: History of episode(s) of TB or Abnormal but stable radiographic findings. Positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test. Negative bacteriologic studies (if done) and No clinical or radiographic evidence of current disease.
Class: 5; Type: TB suspected; Description: Diagnosis pending.

Epidemiology of TB in the United States

Slide 14 (Chapter title slide): Epidemiology in the United States
Image of the United States

Slide 15: TB Morbidity Trends in the United States

  • From 1953 to 1984, reported cases decreased by an average of 5.6% per year

  • From 1985 to 1992, reported TB cases increased by 20%

  • Since 1993, reported TB cases have been declining again

  • 18,361 cases reported in 1998

Slide 16: Reported TB Cases, United States, 1953-1998
This graph shows the total number of TB cases reported annually in the United States from 1953, the year national TB surveillance officially began, through 1998. From 1953 through 1985, the number of reported TB cases declined steadily, from more than 84,000 in 1953 to 22,201 in 1985.  From 1985 through 1992, however, the number of cases increased by 20% to 26,673.

Slide 17: Factors Contributing to the Increase in TB Morbidity: 1985-1992

  • Deterioration of the TB public health infrastructure

  • HIV/AIDS epidemic

  • Immigration from countries where TB is common

  • Transmission of TB in congregate settings

Slide 18: Factors Contributing to the Decrease in TB Morbidity Since 1993

Increased efforts to strengthen TB control programs that

  • Promptly identify persons with TB

  • Initiate appropriate treatment

  • Ensure completion of therapy

Slide 19: Reported Cases of TB by Country of Birth - United States, 1986-1998
In 1986, CDC began collecting information about country of birth on the individual TB case report. In 1986, 22% of U.S. TB cases were among foreign-born persons. The proportion of TB cases among foreign-born persons has steadily increased since 1986 and increased markedly since 1992 (from 27% in 1992 to 42% in 1998).

Slide 20: Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR TB) Remains a Serious Public Health Concern

  • Resistance to INH greater than or equal to 4% in 46 states and District of Columbia (DC) during 1993-1998

  • 45 states and DC reported at least one MDR TB case during 1993-1998

Slide 21: MDR TB Cases, 1993-1998.
During 1993 through 1998, 45 states and the District of Columbia reported at least one multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) case (i.e., resistance to at least isoniazid and rifampin)

Slide 22: Persons at Higher Risk for Exposure to or Infection with TB

  • Close contacts of person known or suspected to have TB

  • Foreign-born persons from areas where TB is common

  • Residents and employees of high-risk congregate settings

  • Health care workers (HCWs) who serve high-risk clients

Slide 23: Persons at Higher Risk for Exposure to or Infection with TB (cont.)

  • Medically underserved, low-income populations

  • High-risk racial or ethnic minority populations

  • Children exposed to adults in high-risk categories

  • Persons who inject illicit drugs

Slide 24: Persons at Higher Risk of Developing TB Disease once Infected

  • HIV infected

  • Recently infected

  • Persons with certain medical conditions

  • Persons who inject illicit drugs

  • History of inadequately treated TB

Testing for TB Disease and Infection

Slide 25 (Chapter title slide): Testing for TB Disease and Infection
This slide shows the administration of the tuberculin skin test.

Slide 26: Purpose of Targeted Testing

  • Find persons with LTBI who would benefit from treatment

  • Find persons with TB disease who would benefit from treatment

  • Groups that are not high risk for TB should not be tested routinely

Slide 27: All testing activities should be accompanied by a plan for follow-up care
This slide shows the administration of the tuberculin skin test.

Slide 28: Groups That Should Be Tested for LTBI
Persons at higher risk for exposure to or infection with TB

  • Close contacts of a person known or suspected to have TB

  • Foreign-born persons from areas where TB is common

  • Residents and employees of high-risk congregate settings

  • Health care workers (HCWs) who serve high-risk clients

Slide 29: Groups That Should Be Tested for LTBI (cont.)
Persons at higher risk for exposure to or infection with TB

  • Medically underserved, low-income populations

  • High-risk racial or ethnic minority populations

  • Children exposed to adults in high-risk categories

  • Persons who inject illicit drugs

Slide 30: Groups That Should Be Tested for LTBI (Cont.)
Persons at higher risk for TB disease once infected

  • Persons with HIV infection

  • Persons recently infected with M. tuberculosis

  • Persons with certain medical conditions

  • Persons who inject illicit drugs

  • Persons with a history of inadequately treated TB

Slide 31: Administering the Tuberculin Skin Test

  • Inject intradermally 0.1 ml of 5 TU PPD tuberculin

  • Produce wheal 6 mm to 10 mm in diameter

  • Do not recap, bend, or break needles, or remove needles from syringes

  • Follow universal precautions for infection control

  • This slide includes a picture of the administration of the tuberculin skin test.

Slide 32: Reading the Tuberculin Skin Test

  • Read reaction 48-72 hours after injection

  • Measure only induration

  • Record reaction in millimeters

  • This slide includes a picture of the reading of the tuberculin skin test.

This slide includes a picture of the reading of the tuberculin skin test.

Slide 33: Classifying the Tuberculin Reaction
Greater than or equal to 5 mm is classified as positive in

  • HIV-positive persons

  • Recent contacts of TB case

  • Persons with fibrotic changes on chest radiograph consistent with old healed TB

  • Patients with organ transplants and other immunosuppressed patients

Slide 34: Classifying the Tuberculin Reaction (cont.)
Greater than or equal to 10 mm is classified as positive in

  • Recent arrivals from high-prevalence countries

  • Injection drug users

  • Residents and employees of high-risk congregate settings

  • Mycobacteriology laboratory personnel

  • Persons with clinical conditions that place them at high risk

  • Children < 4 years of age, or children and adolescents exposed to adults in high-risk categories

Slide 35: Classifying the Tuberculin Reaction (cont.)
Greater than or equal to 15 mm is classified as positive in

  • Persons with no known risk factors for TB

  • Targeted skin testing programs should only be conducted among high-risk groups

Slide 36: Occupational Exposure to TB,
Appropriate Cutoff Depends on

  • Individual risk factors for TB

  • Prevalence of TB in the facility

Slide 37: Factors that May Affect the Skin Test Reaction (Chart)
Type of Reaction: False-positive. Possible Cause: Nontuberculous mycobacteria. BCG vaccination.
Type of Reaction: False-negative. Possible Cause: Anergy. Recent TB infection. Very young age (< 6 months old). Live-virus vaccination. Overwhelming TB disease.

Slide 38: Anergy

  • Do not rule out diagnosis based on negative skin test result

  • Consider anergy in persons with no reaction if:

    • HIV infected

    • Overwhelming TB disease

    • Severe or febrile illness

    • Viral infections

    • Live-virus vaccinations

    • Immunosuppressive therapy

  • Anergy skin testing no longer routinely recommended

Slide 39: Boosting

  • Some people with LTBI may have negative skin test reaction when tested years after infection

  • Initial skin test may stimulate (boost) ability to react to tuberculin

  • Positive reactions to subsequent tests may be misinterpreted as a new infection

Slide 40: Two-Step Testing
Use two-step testing for initial skin testing of adults who will be retested periodically

  • If first test positive, consider the person infected

  • If first test negative, give second test 1-3 weeks later

  • If second test positive, consider person infected

  • If second test negative, consider person uninfected

Diagnosis of TB

Slide 41 (Chapter title slide): Diagnosis of TB
This slide shows a picture of a microscope.

Slide 42: Evaluation for TB

  • Medical history

  • Physical examination

  • Mantoux tuberculin skin test

  • Chest radiograph

  • Bacteriologic or histologic exam

Slide 43: Symptoms of Pulmonary TB

  • Productive, prolonged cough (duration of 3 weeks)

  • Chest pain

  • Hemoptysis

Slide 44: Systemic Symptoms of TB

  • Fever

  • Chills

  • Night sweats

  • Appetite loss

  • Weight loss

  • Easy fatigability

Slide 45: Medical History

  • Symptoms of disease

  • History of TB exposure, infection, or disease

  • Past TB treatment

  • Demographic risk factors for TB

  • Medical conditions that increase risk for TB disease

Slide 46: Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test
Preferred method of testing for TB infection in adults and children

  • Tuberculin skin testing useful for

    • Examining person who is not ill but may be infected

    • Determining how many people in group are infected

    • Examining person who has symptoms of TB

Slide 47: Chest Radiograph

  • Abnormalities often seen in apical or posterior segments of upper lobe or superior segments of lower lobe

  • May have unusual appearance in HIV-positive persons

  • Cannot confirm diagnosis of TB

This slide includes a picture of a chest radiograph with an arrow pointing to cavity in patient's right upper lobe.

Slide 48: Specimen Collection

  • Obtain 3 sputum specimens for smear examination and culture

  • Persons unable to cough up sputum, induce sputum, bronchoscopy or gastric aspiration

  • Follow infection control precautions during specimen collection

Slide 49: Smear Examination

  • Strongly consider TB in patients with smears containing acid-fast bacilli (AFB)

  • Results should be available within 24 hours of specimen collection

  • Presumptive diagnosis of TB

Slide 50: AFB smear
This slide shows an AFB smear. AFB (shown in red) are tubercle bacilli.

Slide 51: Cultures

  • Use to confirm diagnosis of TB

  • Culture all specimens, even if smear negative

  • Results in 4 to 14 days when liquid medium systems used

This slides includes a picture of colonies of M. tuberculosis growing on media

Slide 52: Drug Susceptibility Testing
Drug susceptibility testing on initial M. tuberculosis isolate
Repeat for patients who
-Do not respond to therapy
-Have positive cultures despite 2 months of therapy
Promptly forward results to the health department

Slide 53: Persons at Increased Risk for Drug Resistance

  • History of treatment with TB drugs

  • Contacts of persons with drug-resistant TB

  • Foreign-born persons from high prevalent drug resistant areas

  • Smears or cultures remain positive despite 2 months of TB treatment

  • Received inadequate treatment regimens for greater than or equal to 2 weeks

Treatment of Latent TB Infection (LTBI)

Slide 54 (Chapter title slide): Treatment of Latent TB Infection (LTBI)
A picture showing a patient and health care worker. The patient is taking medication given by the health care worker.

Slide 55: Candidates for Treatment of LTBI
Positive skin test result greater than or equal to 5 mm

  • HIV-positive persons

  • Recent contacts of a TB case

  • Persons with fibrotic changes on chest radiograph consistent with old TB

  • Patients with organ transplants and other immunosuppressed patients

Slide 56: Candidates for Treatment of LTBI (cont.)
Positive skin test result greater than or equal to 10 mm

  • Recent arrivals from high-prevalence countries

  • Injection drug users

  • Residents and employees of high-risk congregate settings

  • Mycobacteriology laboratory personnel

  • Persons with clinical conditions that make them high-risk

  • Children < 4 years of age, or children and adolescents exposed to adults in high-risk categories

Slide 57: Candidates for Treatment of LTBI (cont.)
Positive skin test result greater than or equal to 15mm

  • Persons with no known risk factors for TB may be considered

  • Targeted skin testing programs should only be conducted among high-risk groups

Slide 58: Treatment of LTBI with Isoniazid (INH)

  • 9-month regimen considered optimal

  • Children should receive 9 months of therapy

  • Can be given twice-weekly if directly observed

Slide 59: Treatment of LTBI with a Rifamycin and Pyrazinamide (PZA)
HIV-Positive Persons

  • A rifamycin and PZA daily for 2 months

  • May be given twice weekly

  • Administration of rifampin (RIF) contraindicated with some protease inhibitors (PIs) and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)

HIV-Negative Persons

  • Clinical trials have not been conducted

  • Daily RIF and PZA for 2 months

  • May be given twice weekly

Slide 60:
Contacts of INH-Resistant TB

  • Treatment with a rifamycin and PZA

  • If unable to tolerate PZA, 4-month regimen of daily RIF

  • HIV-positive persons: 2 month regimen with a rifamycin and PZA

Contacts of Multidrug-Resistant TB

  • Use 2 drugs to which the infecting organism has demonstrated susceptibility

  • Treat for 6 months or observe without treatment (HIV-negative)

  • Treat HIV-positive persons for 12 months

  • Follow for 2 years regardless of treatment

Slide 61:
Fibrotic Lesions

  • Acceptable regimens include

  • 9 months of INH

  • 2 months RIF plus PZA

  • 4 months of RIF (with or without INH)

Pregnancy and Breast-feeding

  • INH daily or twice weekly

  • Pyridoxine supplementation

  • Breast-feeding not contraindicated

Slide 62: Monitoring Patients
Before treatment for LTBI is started, clinicians should

  • Rule out possibility of TB disease

  • Determine history of treatment for LTBI or disease

  • Determine contraindications to treatment

  • Obtain information about current and previous drug therapy

  • Recommend HIV testing if risk factors are present

Slide 63: Monitoring Patients (cont.)
Establish rapport with patient and emphasize

  • Benefits of treatment

  • Importance of adherence to treatment regimen

  • Possible adverse side effects of regimen

  • Establishment of optimal follow-up plan

Slide 64: Monitoring Patients (cont.)
Baseline laboratory testing

  • Not routinely indicated

  • Baseline hepatic measurements for

    • Patients whose initial evaluation suggests a liver disorder

    • Patients with HIV infection

    • Pregnant women and those in immediate postpartum period

    • Patients with history of chronic liver disorder

Slide 65: Monitoring Patients (cont.)
At least monthly, evaluate for

  • Adherence to prescribed regimen

  • Signs and symptoms of active TB disease

  • Signs and symptoms of hepatitis (if receiving isoniazid alone, and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks if receiving RIF and PZA)

Treatment of TB Disease

Slide 66 (Chapter title slide): Treatment of TB Disease
A picture showing a patient and health care worker. The patient is taking medication given by the health care worker.

Slide 67: Basic Principles of Treatment

  • Provide safest, most effective therapy in shortest time

  • Multiple drugs to which the organisms are susceptible

  • Never add single drug to failing regimen

  • Ensure adherence to therapy

Slide 68: Adherence

  • Nonadherence is a major problem in TB control

  • Use case management and directly observed therapy (DOT) to ensure patients complete treatment

Slide 69: Case Management

  • Assignment of responsibility

  • Systematic regular review

  • Plans to address barriers to adherence

Slide 70: Directly Observed Therapy (DOT)

  • Health care worker watches patient swallow each dose of medication

  • Consider DOT for all patients

  • DOT should be used with all intermittent regimens

  • DOT can lead to reductions in relapse and acquired drug resistance

  • Use DOT with other measures to promote adherence
     

Slide 71: Treatment of TB for HIV-Negative Persons

  • Include four drugs in initial regimen

    • Isoniazid (INH)

    • Rifampin (RIF)

    • Pyrazinamide (PZA)

    • Ethambutol (EMB) or streptomycin (SM)

  • Adjust regimen when drug susceptibility results are known

Slide 72: Treatment of TB for HIV-Positive Persons

  • Management of HIV-related TB is complex

  • Care for HIV-related TB should be provided by or in consultation with experts in management of both HIV and TB

Slide 73: Treatment of TB for HIV-Positive Persons (cont.)
RIF-based regimens generally recommended for persons

  • Who have not started antiretroviral therapy

  • For whom PIs or NNRTIs are not recommended

Initial treatment phase should consist of

  • Isoniazid (INH)

  • Rifampin (RIF)

  • Pyrazinzamide (PZA)

  • Ethambutol (EMB)

RIF may be used with some PIs and NNRTIs

Slide 74: Treatment of TB for HIV-Positive Persons (cont.)
For patients receiving PIs or NNRTIs, initial treatment phase may consist of

  • Isoniazid (INH)

  • Rifabutin (RFB)

  • Pyrazinamide (PZA)

  • Ethambutol (EMB)

An alternative nonrifamycin regimen includes INH, EMB, PZA, and streptomycin (SM)

Slide 75
Extrapulmonary TB
In most cases, treat with same regimens used for pulmonary TB

Bone and Joint TB, Miliary TB, or TB Meningitis in Children
Treat for a minimum of 12 months

Slide 76
Pregnant women

  • 9-month regimen of INH, RIF, and EMB

  • PZA and SM are contraindicated

  • PZA not contraindicated in HIV-positive pregnant women

Children

  • In most cases, treat with same regimens used for adults

Infants

  • Treat as soon as diagnosis suspected

Slide 77: Treatment Regimens for TB Resistant Only to INH
HIV-Negative Persons

  • Carefully supervise and manage treatment to avoid development of MDR TB

  • Discontinue INH and continue RIF, PZA, and EMB or SM for the entire 6 months

  • Or, treat with RIF and EMB for 12 months

HIV-Positive Persons

  • Regimen should consist of a rifamycin, PZA, and EMB

Slide 78: Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR TB)

  • Presents difficult treatment problems

  • Treatment must be individualized

  • Clinicians unfamiliar with treatment of MDR TB should seek expert consultation

  • Always use DOT to ensure adherence

Slide 79: Monitoring for Adverse Reactions

  • Baseline measurements

  • Monitor patients at least monthly

  • Monitoring for adverse reactions must be individualized

  • Instruct patients to immediately report adverse reactions

Slide 80: Monitoring Response to Treatment

  • Monitor patients bacteriologically monthly until cultures convert to negative

  • After 3 months of therapy, if cultures are positive or symptoms do not resolve, reevaluate for

    • Potential drug-resistant disease

    • Nonadherence to drug regimen

  • If cultures do not convert to negative despite 3 months of therapy, consider initiating DOT

Infection Control in Health Care Settings

Slide 81 (Chapter title slide): Infection Control in Health Care Settings
This slide includes a drawing of a man wearing a face mask.

Slide 82: Infectiousness
Patients should be considered infectious if they

  • Are coughing

  • Are undergoing cough-inducing or aerosol-generating procedures, or

  • Have sputum smears positive for acid-fast bacilli, and they

  • Are not receiving therapy

  • Have just started therapy, or

  • Have poor clinical response to therapy

Slide 83: Infectiousness (cont.)
Patients no longer considered infectious if they meet all of these criteria:

  • Are on adequate therapy

  • Have had a significant clinical response to therapy, and

  • Have had 3 consecutive negative sputum smear results

Slide 84: Infection Control Measures

  • Administrative controls to reduce risk of exposure

  • Engineering controls to prevent spread and reduce concentration of droplet nuclei

  • Personal respiratory protection in areas where increased risk of exposure

Slide 85: Administrative Controls
Reduce risk of exposing uninfected persons to infectious disease:

  • Develop and implement written policies and protocols to ensure

    • Rapid identification

    • Isolation

    • Diagnostic evaluation

    • Treatment

  • Implement effective work practices among HCWs

  • Educate, train, and counsel HCWs about TB

  • Test HCWs for TB infection and disease

Slide 86: Administrative Controls (cont.)
Perform risk assessment and classification of facility based on

  • Profile of TB in community

  • Number of infectious TB patients admitted

  • Analysis of HCW skin test conversions

Slide 87: Engineering Controls
To prevent spread and reduce concentration of infectious droplet nuclei

  • Use ventilation systems in TB isolation rooms

  • Use HEPA filtration and ultraviolet irradiation with other infection control measures

Slides 88: Personal Respiratory Protection
Use in areas where increased risk of exposure:

  • TB isolation rooms

  • Rooms where cough-inducing procedures are done

  • Homes of infectious TB patients

BCG Vaccination

Slide 89 (Chapter title slide): BCG Vaccination
This slides shows picture of a needle and medication vial.

Slide 90: Recommendations for BCG Vaccination

  • Not recommended in immunization programs or TB control programs in the U.S.

  • BCG vaccination undertaken after consultation with health department 

Slide 91: Recommendations for BCG Vaccination (cont.)
Considered for an infant or child with negative skin-test result who

  • Is continually exposed to untreated or ineffectively treated patient

  • Will be continually exposed to multidrug-resistant TB

Slide 92: Recommendations for BCG Vaccination (cont.)
HCWs considered on individual basis in settings in which

  • High percentage of MDR TB patients has been found

  • Transmission of drug-resistant TB strains and subsequent infection are likely, and

  • Comprehensive TB infection-control precautions implemented and not successful

Slide 93: BCG Contraindications
Contraindicated in persons with impaired immune response from

  • HIV infection

  • Congenital immunodeficiency

  • Leukemia

  • Lymphoma

  • Generalized malignancy

  • Receiving high-dose steroid therapy

  • Receiving alkylating agents

  • Receiving antimetabolites

  • Receiving radiation therapy

Slide 94: BCG Vaccination and Tuberculin Skin Testing

  • Tuberculin skin testing not contraindicated for BCG-vaccinated persons

  • LTBI diagnosis and treatment for LTBI considered for any BCG-vaccinated person whose skin test reaction is greater than or equal to 10 mm, if any of these circumstances are present:

    • Was contact of another person with infectious TB

    • Was born or has resided in a high TB prevalence country

    • Is continually exposed to populations where TB prevalence is high

Community TB Control

Slide 95 (Chapter title slide): Community TB Control
This slide shows a picture of three men on a street corner. The patient is taking medication administered by an outreach worker.

Slide 96: Preventing and Controlling TB
Three priority strategies:

  • Identify and treat all persons with TB disease

  • Identify contacts to persons with infectious TB; evaluate and offer therapy

  • Test high-risk groups for LTBI; offer therapy as appropriate

Slide 97: Health care providers should work with health department in the following areas:

  • Overall planning and policy development

  • Identification of persons with clinically active TB

  • Management of persons with disease or TB suspects

  • Identification and management of persons with LTBI

  • Laboratory and diagnostic services

  • Data collection and analysis

  • Training and education 

Slide 98: Overall Planning and Policy

  • Develop overall TB control strategy

  • Review local laws, regulations, and policies

  • Guide and oversee TB control efforts of local institutions and practitioners

  • Provide consultations in TB treatment, contact investigations, and infection control practices

  • Seek out necessary funding and resources

  • Educate policymakers

Slide 99: Identification of Persons Who Have
Clinically Active TB

  • Health department has ultimate responsibility for ensuring TB patients do not transmit TB

Contact Investigation

  • Purpose of a contact investigation is to find persons who

  • Have TB disease so treatment can be given, and further transmission stopped

  • Have LTBI so treatment can be given

  • Are at high risk of developing TB disease and require treatment until LTBI excluded

Slide 100: Management of Persons Who Have TB Disease or TB Suspects
Management involves range of services, which include

  • Developing a treatment plan

  • Promoting and ensuring adherence

  • Providing a referral system for other medical problems

  • Providing clinical consultation services

  • Providing inpatient care when necessary

  • Providing appropriate facilities to isolate and treat patients with infectious TB

  • Maintaining an infection control program 

Slide 101: Identification and Management of Persons with LTBI

  • Establish working relationships with other health care providers

  • Target testing to well-defined high-risk groups

  • Flexibility needed in defining high-priority groups

Slide 102: Laboratory and Diagnostic Services

  • Readily accessible

  • AFB results within 24 hours of specimen collection

  • Clinicians promptly report all TB cases and suspected cases

  • All TB smear and culture results reported by laboratories

Slide 103: Data Collection and Analysis

  • TB reporting required in every state

  • All new cases and suspected cases promptly reported to health department

  • All drug susceptibility results sent to health department

Slide 104: Training and Education
TB control programs should

  • Provide training for program staff

  • Provide leadership in TB education to the community

  • Ensure community leaders, clinicians, and policymakers are knowledgeable about TB

  • Educate the public


Last Reviewed: 05/18/2008
Content Source: Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

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