November 2021

Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2020

Earlier this year, on March 25, 2021, the CDC published provisional tuberculosis (TB) data in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The full report, Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2020, is now available exclusively online. CDC has also created these new materials to highlight findings from the 2020 surveillance report:

• Slide set
• Social media graphics
• Infographic
• Trends in TB webpage

Get To Know The WA DOH TB Lab!

Alicia Terrenzio, Microbiology Supervisor

Prior to coming to the State, Alicia graduated from Boise State University with a B.S. in Microbiology. She has been with the WA State DOH since 2010. After 5 years of working in the Virology, STD and TB labs, she was promoted to Lead of the STD unit in 2015. In May 2021 she was then promoted to Supervisor of the STD and TB Laboratories. She is looking forward to continuing to grow in her TB knowledge and growing into this role.

Alicia can be reached via email at Alicia.Terrenzio@doh.wa.gov, she also loves to talk on the phone and you can reach her at 206-418-5474.

Ryan Ortiguerra, Lead Microbiologist

Ryan has been working as the lead for the WA State TB Laboratory since the summer of 2019 (including COVID-19 response in 2020). He has been a part of public health/disease surveillances since 2004 working at the Naval Health Research Center/Operational Infectious Diseases in San Diego, CA. Ryan has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Public Health-Epidemiology from Walden University, and an undergraduate degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from San Diego State University.  

Ryan can be reached via email at ryan.ortiguerra@doh.wa.gov or by phone at 206-418-5473.

For LHJs: Free TB Medications Available

DOH received some Rifampin 300mg free of charge from the CDC National Stockpile. These medications expire on 1/21/2022. They are NOT part of the 340B program and do NOT have 340B restrictions. They are available for order by County Health Departments or Districts for any TB patient including those identified in contact investigations and/or who have LTBI. These medications are offered on first come, first serve basis. Use this special order form to place an order.

Treatment of TB in Adults with HIV Infection Reference Card Now Available

This pocket reference card is provided through a collaboration between the SNTC and the North Florida AIDS Education and Training Center. It was updated in August 2021, and is intended to assist clinicians in managing LTBI and TB in HIV-infected patients. 

For LHJs: Need TB Program Assistance?

We realize your LHJ may be experiencing capacity issues. We are available to help with TB case management and contact investigations. Please let us know how we can help. We monitor the TB Services email box (TBServices@doh.wa.gov) and are available by phone at 206-418-5500.

New Job Opportunity

• Tuberculosis Controller/Assistant Health Officer -- Santa Clara County, CA

Upcoming Events and Education Opportunities

November 2, 2021 | Human to Cattle Tuberculosis Transmission: Partnerships and the Role of Public Health Tuberculosis Programs

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm, PT. Sponsored by the National Milk Producer's Federation, this webinar presents the recent cases of human to cattle TB transmission within the dairy industry and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health response when it occurred. Register here.

November 2-3, 2021 | Hep B United and TB Elimination Alliance Virtual Summit

Participants can look forward to workshops, panels, poster and exhibitor booths, networking, and more! Access here.

November 4, 2021 | Culturally Responsive TB Education and Training Part 1

11:30 am - 1:00 pm, PT. From the TB Education and Training Network and Southeastern National TB Center, this webinar is for health educators who design and provide TB education and training. Register here.

November 15-18, 2021 | 2021 Virtual Pacific Islands TB Controllers Association (PITCA) Conference

This educational conference is designed for staff involved in TB Management, Prevention, and Control from each of the USAPI jurisdictions and Hawaii, as well as representatives from various agencies. It is approved for up to 11 continuing education hours. Register here.

November 17, 2021 | Nitrosamines and Rifamycins: A Primer for TB Nurses

11:00 am - 12:00 pm, PT. Jointly sponsored by the TB Centers of Excellence and the National TB Controllers Association. This webinar discusses the nitrosamine impurities in TB drugs, rifampicin, and rifapentine and reviews relevant information important for TB nurses to know. Participation in the live webinar has been approved for 1 continuing education credit. Register here.

November 18, 2021 | Hot Topics in TB! Webcast Series: Diabetes and Tuberculosis

10:00 am - 11:15 am, PT. From Heartland National TB Center, this webcast is intended for healthcare professionals who are actively engaged in the identification, case management, and treatment of patients with latent TB infection or active TB disease. Register here. 

November 18, 2021 | Culturally Responsive TB Education and Training Part 2

11:30 am - 1:00 pm, PT. From the TB Education and Training Network and Southeastern National TB Center, this webinar is for health educators who design and others who develop TB education and training. Register here.

December 3, 2021 | Rheumatoid Arthritis and TB

9:00 am - 10:00 am, PT. Web-based TB Grand Rounds from Rutgers Global TB Institute. please contact Shwata Suresh Kumar or Olivia Dupont to be added to the listserv. 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

'A global wake-up call’: In shadow of COVID-19, TB deaths rise for first time in 15 years 

Healio | 10/14/2021 | Read here

Ordinary breathing, not coughing, behind most TB transmission, say UCT researchers

Business Day | 10/14/21 | Read here

Tuberculosis outbreaks declared in Canadian province, two resistant strains found: Why is Canada on alert over TB?

Times Now News |10/18/2021 | Read here

Tuberculosis, Like Covid, Spreads by Breathing, Scientists Report

The New York Times | 10/19/2021 | Read here

The COVID pandemic must lead to tuberculosis vaccines

Nature | 10/28/2021 | Read here

Videos and Recordings

Considerations for the New Four-Month Rifapentine-Moxifloxacin Regimen for Drug-Susceptible TB in the U.S.

Jointly provided by the TB Centers of Excellence, a recording and presentation materials for the session are now available. No CE credits offered. Access here.

Union-North America Region Conference: Post Graduate Course Recordings

The TB Centers of Excellence post graduate course explored the dynamic and essential role of the laboratory in the diagnosis and management of persons with TB. Access 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 these webinars. Access here.

Southeastern National TB Center Archived Webinars

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

For LHJs: Delivery Express Courier

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

CDC

• CDC Guidance of COVID mRNA Vaccines, TST, and IGRA.
• 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 - find TB educational materials for patients and providers.
• Questions & Answers About Tuberculosis in Multiple Languages
• 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
• Subscribe to the CDC's quarterly newsletter, TB Notes!

Heartland National TB Center

• Stop the Stigma: Eliminating Stigmatizing Language includes non‐hurtful replacement language to support more patient-centered care.

National Society of Tuberculosis Clinicians

• Testing and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in the United States: Clinical Recommendations

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