September 2022

A Moment of Remembrance

A long time employee at WA State Public Health Lab, Cathy Lisle passed away on Saturday 8/20. Cathy started as a Lab Technician at the PHL in July 1986 working until her retirement in September 2020. Cathy’s daughter is organizing a celebration of life and Alicia Terrenzio at DOH is collecting memories shared to put them in a book for her family. Please respond to this email if you would like to share.

Lana Dov shares this remembrance - From 2015 to when Cathy Lisle retired, I would walk into the TB lab many times in the week to ask questions and expand my learning as a new TB nurse. I was especially struck by the excitement that lit up in Cathy eyes when I asked her what she sees under the microscope in the TB Lab. She shared with me the new culture positive case of the day that so clearly had the unique cording of mycobacterium tuberculosis and would point to the red beaded snake-like poster on top of the desk cabinets in the room (see photo taken on that day August 15, 2017). Her love for microbiology was so evident in her narration to me. My understanding of TB is forever changed because of her ability to share her love. 

Career Opportunities

• TB Nursing Consultant, Washington State Department of Health. Closes 9/12/2022.
• Part-Time Infectious Diseases Physician, Santa Clara County, CA

Rumor busting: TB Medications or Supply Shortage?

Are you hearing something about a shortage and are concerned? Here are some resources you can easily check to confirm if there really is a shortage:

FDA Device Shortage List

FDA maintains a list of medical device shortages during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. (This list includes masks, syringes etc.,)

FDA Drug Shortages

​​​​​​​Drug Shortages can occur for many reasons, including manufacturing and quality problems, delays, and discontinuations. Manufacturers provide FDA most drug shortage information.

ASHP Drug Shortages Database (American Society of Hospital Pharmacists) Another national database that tracks drug shortages.

LHJs you don't have to memorize where these databases are located, you'll find them all listed on our SharePoint Medication Shortages (sharepoint.com) page. 

Please reach out to us if you have difficultly ordering TB medications or supplies at TBServices@doh.wa.gov.

Information for Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs)

Updated Interjurisdictional Notification (IJN) Forms

In August, the National TB Controllers Association updated the IJN forms to include five possible forms available for use: Cover Sheet, Active/Possible TB, Contact, TB Infection, All Forms Combined. The IJN forms and companion guide can be accessed on tbcontrollers.org.

Upcoming Washington Disease Reporting System (WDRS) changes for Tuberculosis (TB)

State Board of Health updates to reporting Race, Ethnicity, and Language      

Anticipated implementation date: October 31, 2022

Among other updates in the Notifiable Conditions WAC, Chapter 246-101, are updates to the specifications for reporting patient Race, Ethnicity, and Language for notifiable conditions. WDRS TB events will soon reflect additional selection options for these self-identified fields, including a ‘declined to answer’ option.

• Any questions about utilizing these fields after this change is implemented can be directed to tbservices@doh.wa.gov.
• Questions about the Notifiable Conditions rules and implementation can be sent to notifiableconditions@sboh.wa.gov.
• More information about this update can also be located on the State Board of Health Rulemaking page.

RVCT V3 reporting updates                                   

Anticipated implementation date: Early 2023.

Updates originally projected to launch in September 2022 have been delayed due to state-mandated Race, Ethnicity, and Language update implementation. Continuing updates on this timeline will be shared via the TB newsletter, TB Partners SharePoint page, and the Rainier Suite User Group (RSUG), also called the WDRS User Group (WUG). Contact tbservices@doh.wa.gov to request access to the TB Partners SharePoint page if needed. 

Washington Tuberculosis LHJ Workshop

The DOH TB Program is hosting the virtual Washington TB Workshop on September 21, 2022 from 9 am - 12 pm, PT. If you are a LHJ staff who is clinically, administratively, or financially managing TB and have not yet received a calendar invite, please contact tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

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.

Upcoming Events and Education Opportunities

September 27, 2022 | IGRA for Nurses Webinar

This Southeastern National TB Center webinar will provide public health nurses with knowledge about the Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood tests and how they are used to identify patients with past or recent infections with the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis organism (Mtb). Register here.

Heartland National TB Center Panel Physician Webcast Series

This webcast series is intended for panel physicians who examine, evaluate and provide clearance for immigrants, refugees, and adoptees to the U.S. The series is also open to U.S. providers who may see children after being evaluated overseas. More information here.

• September 29, 2022: Part 4 - Radiology of TB in Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women
• October 20, 2022: Part 5 - Clinical Presentation, Evaluation and Treatment of TB Disease in Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women
• October 25, 2022: A Deeper Dive into TB Nurse Case Management (Pilot). Register here.
• October28, 2022: Tuberculosis Skin Test Practicum. Register here.
• November 17, 2022: Part 6 - U.S. Experience After Immigration

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.

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

October 2022 | TB and HIV Updates

SNTC will provide updates as weekly webinars every Wednesday in October. More information will be available here. 

October 2022 | Fundamentals of TB Contact Investigation

This Rutgers Global TB Institute online training will introduce learners to the fundamental concepts of TB contact investigations. More information here. 

October 6-7, 2022 | TB Medical Consultants Meeting

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

October 11, 2022 | Bridges to Build: TB Along the Border

This CITC training focuses on the binational community’s experience, access to care and the quality of care they receive. Register here. 

November 8-11, 2022 | The Union World Conference on Lung Health

The Union's 2022 conference theme is "combating pandemics: today and tomorrow". More information here. 

September - November, 2022 | Rutgers LTBI ECHO Series

This Rutgers Global TB Institute webinar series is every 1st and 3rd Tuesday and open to primary care providers and nurse practitioners who are involved in the care of high risk populations to test and treat latent TB infection in primary care. 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

Online project explores Indigenous tuberculosis history

Yahoo News | 7/2022 | Read here

Novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Genotype Related to M. caprae

Emerging Infectious Diseases Vol. 28, No/ 7 | 7/2022 | doi: 10.3201/eid2807.212353 | Read here

Tuberculosis Outbreaks in State Prisons, United States, 2011–2019

American Journal of Public Health | 7/2022 | doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2022.306864 | Read here

What You Need to Know about Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) and Tuberculosis (TB) and its Impact on A/AA and NH/PI Communities: A Note from the Tuberculosis Elimination Alliance

TB Elimination Alliance | 7/2022 | Read here

Nationwide tuberculosis outbreak in the USA linked to a bone graft product: an outbreak report

The Lancet | 8/2022 | doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00425-X | Read here

Revised Definitions of Tuberculosis Resistance and Treatment Outcomes, France, 2006–2019

Emerging Infectious Diseases Vol. 28, No/9 | 9/2022 | doi: 10.3201/eid2809.220458. | Read here

Costs of Tuberculosis at 3 Treatment Centers, Canada, 2010–2016

Emerging Infectious Diseases Vol. 28, No/9 | 9/2022 | doi: 10.3201/eid2809.220092 | Read here

Detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Children Migrating to Australia

Emerging Infectious Diseases Vol. 28, No/9 | 9/2022 | doi: 10.3201/eid2809.212426 | Read here

Bedaquiline–Pretomanid–Linezolid Regimens for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

The New England Journal of Medicine | 9/2022 | doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2119430 | Read here

Pretomanid in the Treatment of Patients with Tuberculosis in the United States

The New England Journal of Medicine | 9/2022 | doi:10.1056/NEJMc2119461 | Read here

Video Recordings and Education Opportunities

*New* What’s New in HIV, Viral Hepatitis, TB, and STI in Correctional Settings? CDC Updates and Perspectives from the Field

Presented by the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare with American Jail Association, CDC, and National Sheriffs' Association on 9/1/2022. Access the slides and recording here. 

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!

For LHJs: Delivery Express Courier

• Contact tbservices@doh.wa.gov for information about free courier services TB specimens from your local health jurisdiction to the Public Health Lab.

DOH Refugee Health Program

• Afghan Health Resources - Fact sheets, webinars, videos, and other health resources (scroll down for TB resources).
• Ukrainian Health Resources - Fact sheets, webinars, videos, and other health resources to support new arrivals from Ukraine (scroll down for TB resources).

Heartland National TB Center

• Stop the Stigma: Eliminating Stigmatizing Language Resources

Southeastern National TB Center

• Individualized Country Guides 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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