May 2022

TB Patient Education Materials in Ukrainian, Russian, & English

CDC & SNTC Resources:

• Q&A About TB - Booklet (CDC): Ukrainian | English
• General TB Information Fact Sheet (CDC): Ukrainian | English
• 12-Dose Regimen for Latent TB Infection Medication-Tracker And Symptom Checklist: Ukrainian (SNTC) | English (CDC)
• 12-Dose Regimen for Latent TB Infection- Patient Education Brochure: Ukrainian (SNTC) | English (CDC)
• You Can Prevent Tuberculosis: A Patient Educational Handout: Ukrainian (SNTC) | English (SNTC)
• For providers: Cultural Quick Reference Guide for Ukraine (SNTC)

Massachusetts Dept. of Health Resources:

• You can have TB and Feel Healthy Ukrainian | Russian | English 
• You have TB Infection (a type of TB)  Ukrainian | Russian | English 
• Taking your TB Medicine Ukrainian | Russian | English
• How to take your TB medicine  Ukrainian | Russian | English
• Keep taking your TB medicine Ukrainian | Russian | English

Medication Shortage Updates

Rifapentine

The FDA is currently listing Rifapentine as 'in shortage'. If you have patients needing this medication, please place an order with your medication supplier, even if it has to be a backorder. Then reach out to your supplier's sales representative and let them know you have placed a backorder (provide your account #) and need the medications as soon as possible.

Rifampin

Thru local distributors, rifampin is becoming more available but supplies still may be spotty. If you need this medication and your supplier is out, place a backorder. And contact your sales representative notifying them of your backorder (they will need your account #). 

• For TB medications DOH provides LHJs: follow your normal process for 340B rifampin and send your order thru TBServices@doh.wa.gov. 

For more information about current TB medication shortages, LHJs can visit the Medication Shortages SharePoint page

Spotlight TB Expertise in WA State

In March, Ann Lund, TB Public Health Nurse with Whatcom County Public Health, met with a CDC workgroup over Zoom about revising the Rifampin Medication Tracker tool after she had provided feedback to them. She reported back that, “it was a great experience, they were really eager to hear my ‘on the ground’ experiences starting patients on LTBI treatment.” View these new changes that went live about 2 weeks ago here: Medication Tracker: 4 Months of Daily Rifampin (4R) for LTBI

Updated Product: TB Contact Investigation in Schools Toolkit

This toolkit was developed in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health and Curry International TB Center, and contains guidance, tips and tools for planning and implementing a thorough school TB contact investigation. Tools and content can be adapted and modified to conform with state and local TB program guidelines, policies and procedures.

Information for Local Health Jurisdictions

*New* TB SharePoint Resources

BPaL page updates:

• BPaL Guidance
• BPaL Patient Education
• Options for Obtaining Mobile Electrocardiogram (EKG)

Other Program Resources page update:

• Expanded Exposure Questionnaire: Marshallese – specific contact investigation interview tool developed by Oregon DOH. Questions may be adapted to your local community.

Video DOT page updates:

• Tools for the new regimen platform which launched May 9th

Please contact tbservices@doh.wa.gov to request access to the TB SharePoint. 

Phlebotomy Training Available

The DOH TB Program is now partnering with the Phlebotomy Training Center at the University of Washington to offer phlebotomy training for LHJ TB program staff to be able to perform TB blood tests. This is a two day in-person training in Seattle that requires one month advance notice to schedule. Class space is limited. LHJs who are interested in sending over staff to obtain this certification through June 30, 2023, should contact tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

HRSA 340B Recertification for TB Medications

During the 2022 HRSA 340B recertification period (May 9th-June 6th 2022) all of Washington's Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) will need to be recertified. This annual recertification allows our LHJs to receive discounted TB medications under this federal 340B drug pricing program.  

• For most LHJs, DOH will recertify your LHJ allowing your continued access to 340B TB medications this year.
• For a few LHJs whose Authorizing Official is an LHJ manager, our program has sent you key information enabling you to complete your recertification. 

If you have questions or need more information, please contact tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

Delivery Express Courier Accepting All Specimen Types to DOH Public Health Lab

Please contact TBServices@doh.wa.gov or 206.418.5500 for more information on couriering TB specimens from your local health jurisdiction to the Public Health Lab.

Upcoming Events and Education Opportunities

TB Expert Network: Unplugged

This joint project among CDC's TB Centers of Excellence & Division of TB Elimination provides a forum to discuss challenging or complicated cases with other TB experts. More information here.

• August 19, 2022: Hosted by Global TB Institute
• October 6, 2022: Hosted by Heartland National TB Center
• December 8, 2022: Hosted by Curry International TB Center

May 23-26, 2022 | National TB Conference

NTCA and CTCA leadership is hosting an in-person TB conference. More information here.

May 31-June 3, 2022 | The 2022 Colorado Mycobacteria Conference, Mycobacteria: Focus on NTM

Colorado State University is hosting an in-person conference at Fort Collins, CO. There is an Early Career Travel Grant available for those who qualify. Extended registration closes May 15th. Register here.

June 2022 | TB Case Management for Nurses

This 9-part Global TB Institute (GTBI) interactive course will address specific aspects of nurse TB case management with a focus on practical application. More information here.

Case Management for Latent TB Infection

This Curry International TB Center training is intended for nurses and case managers who provide care to persons undergoing evaluation and/or treatment for LTBI. Register here.

July 12-16 & September 13-17, 2022 | NJ TB Intensive Workshop

This Global TB Institute workshop for clinicians provides comprehensive information on the application of principles for the diagnosis and treatment of TB, as well as the management of TB in special populations. July Workshop Information | September Workshop Information

September 2022 | SNTC Drug Resistant TB for Clinicians

Save-the-date. Registration opens in July. Check here as information becomes available.

October 2022 | TB Medical Consultants Meeting

Save-the-date for this GTBI meeting. More information will be available here. 

TB Research & Training Center Seminar Series

This University of Washington seminar features both TB basic science and clinical science presentations, held on the fourth or third Friday of the month from 12-1 pm. More information here.

Washington's TB Project ECHO

12:30-1:30 pm PT. On Mondays join our lunch-time virtual discussion about real TB cases with your peers. This free interactive event is guided by a panel of local TB experts. For more information about this local project and our partners who make this ongoing event possible.

Articles

Providers should ‘think TB’ as data show possibility of underdiagnosis

Healio | 3/2022 | Read here

New Infographic: War in Ukraine Disrupts HIV & TB Programs

Friends of the Global Fight | 3/2022 | Read here

Optimising tuberculosis care for refugees affected by armed conflicts

The Lancet | 3/2022 | doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(22)00104-7 | Read here

Predicting airborne infection risk: Association between personal ambient carbon dioxide level monitoring and incidence of tuberculosis infection in South African health workers

Clinical Infectious Diseases | 3/2022 | doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac183 | Read here

Less than half of people with latent TB in the US initiate therapy

Healio | 4/2022 | Read here

Effectiveness of nationwide programmatic testing and treatment for latent tuberculosis infection in migrants in England: a retrospective, population-based cohort study

The Lancet | 4/2022 | doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00031-7 | Read here

Pulmonologists Advise Screening Ukrainian Refugees for TB

Medscape | 4/2022 | Read here

Video Recordings and Education Opportunities

CITC Archived Webinars

CME/CE units will not be offered for these trainings. Access here.

Rutgers TB Institute Archived Trainings

CE units are available for select archives for a limited time frame.

• Webinar Archives
• Training Archives

SNTC Archived Webinars

CME/CE units are not offered for these trainings. Access here.

SNTC Online Courses

CME/CE units are offered for these trainings. Access here.

CDC: TB 101 for Health Care Workers

CE units expire on 11/6/2023 and are available at no cost. Access here.

TB ECHO Recorded Archives

Missed a TB ECHO^® session? TB ECHO^® has didactic presentations available for viewing on YouTube. Handouts related to the presentation are included where appropriate. Watch recorded TB ECHO® here

Tools and Resources

CDC

• CDC Guidance of COVID mRNA Vaccines, TST, and IGRA: Scroll to the "People undergoing testing for tuberculosis infection" section.
• CDC Learning Connection.
• CDC TRAIN is a comprehensive catalog of free public health training opportunities from the Public Health Foundation. For TB-related trainings, click here.
• FindTBResources.cdc.gov - TB educational materials for patients and providers.
• Visit Everyday Words for Public Health Communication to find plain language alternatives for public health jargon.
• TB Personal Stories patient videos to help raise awareness about TB in the US.
• we are TB offers comprehensive peer support for current TB patients and TB clinics, including weekly live support group sessions.
• Subscribe to the CDC's quarterly newsletter, TB Notes!

DOH Refugee Health Program

• Afghan Health Resources - This page includes fact sheets, webinars, videos, and other health resources (scroll down for TB resources).

Heartland National TB Center

• Stop the Stigma: Eliminating Stigmatizing Language Resources

Southeastern National TB Center

• Individualized Country Guides for Afghanistan and many other countries. Each County Guide is intended to support the provider-foreign-born client relationship by giving country-specific background information, epidemiological data, common misperceptions and beliefs about TB and HIV/AIDS, as well as information about general health practices, cultural beliefs and courtesies to observe.

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