November 2024

Newly Updated Interjurisdictional TB Notification (IJN) Forms After initial updates in August 2022, the National TB Coalition of America (NTCA) has recently updated the IJN forms, primarily making the forms more user-friendly. A summary of the 2024 changes has been prepared and is accessible here.   The IJN forms and additional information are available on the NTCA website.

These posters were developed with We Are TB and the New Jersey Department of Health and provide information on free online support groups in English and Spanish for current TB patients, TB survivors, or family members of someone with TB seeking patient support. The posters can be displayed in health care settings or provided to patients.

Information for Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs)

Thank You for Participating in Fall TB Cohort Reviews

Thank you to the medium and high TB burden LHJs in Washington State for participating in their one-on-one Cohort Reviews with the state TB team. We appreciate your work and hope your team found value in LHJ's TB surveillance data shared and in reviewing the NTIP data captured in WDRS and EDN.

We encourage each person who attended the Fall Cohort Review to please share their thoughts on the new Cohort Review model by responding to our survey. Please reach out to us if you have lost the survey link at tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

Thank you to everyone who participated this year, see you in the Spring!

Free Nebulizer Starter Kits DOH TB Program has just a few remaining starter kits for LHJs to use with patients with TB.   Each starter kit contains: 1 nebulizer compressor 1 box of 60 count 4 ml 7% Sodium Chloride inhalation solution 15 disposable tubes & mouthpieces.   Limit order to one free kit per LHJ via the Nebulizer Order Form. See TB Partners SharePoint for other applicable conditions.

CDC Rifampin 300 mg Available As of September 15th, LHJs are encouraged to order Rifampin 300 mg that we received from the former CDC National Stockpile. Your LHJ can use this for patients with active disease or latent TB infection. Please order using the Former CDC National Stockpile Medication Order Form. Do not purchase additional Rifampin 300 mg or order using other DOH forms until this supply is exhausted.

Remember to record in your medication tracking log that this supply is from the CDC and not purchased through the 340B or MMCAP discount programs. The pharmacy shipping sheet will also indicate the medication source. The expiration for this supply is 4/30/2025. If you have any questions, please reach out to tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

TB Partners SharePoint New & Updated Resources

*New* Overview of U.S. Refugee Admissions Tracks and Health Considerations   *Updated* All TB Services & Standards Manual Chapters

*Updated TB Case Management Tracker and Index Documents

• Estimating Potential Infectiousness
• Determining Infectious Period and Need for a Contact Investigation
• Recommended Sputum Sample Collection Schedule 
  for Monitoring Smear and Culture Conversion in Suspected Pulmonary TB
• Instructions for Collecting Sputum for TB
• Recommendations to Determine Treatment Completion for
  Active, Drug Susceptible Tuberculosis (TB) Disease
• Monitoring Flow Sheet for Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI)Treatment

SharePoint requires that Microsoft documents like Word and Excel be saved to your computer first before making edits by going to File → Save as → Download a Copy. Email tbservices@doh.wa.gov with any questions or concerns or to request access to the SharePoint.

In-App Messaging Coming Soon to SureAdhere

In August, DOH TB Program shared that Washington state LHJs can now opt in to use the SMS Messaging and Virtual Visit features for video directly observed therapy (VDOT) with their patients in SureAdhere. More information available here: How to opt into SMS messaging How to opt into virtual visits (currently in beta testing, available on Android devices only)

Coming soon: Direct messaging within the SureAdhere app will replace SMS messaging. This new feature will allow patients to securely communicate with their VDOT staff team directly through the app. More details coming soon. 

Upcoming Events and Education Opportunities

Innovations in Tuberculosis (TB) Webinar Series

This Mayo Clinic Center for TB monthly webinar series offers healthcare professionals the latest insights in tuberculosis (TB).

• November 22, 2024: Class 5 Tuberculosis (TB) Diagnosis and Treatment
• December 6, 2024: Navigating Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV Co-Infection

Tuberculosis Civil Surgeon Webinar Series

This Mayo Clinic Center for TB webinar series provides civil surgeons with knowledge and skills in the management of tuberculosis screening, testing, and treatment for individuals who are seeking admission into the United States.

• December 12, 2024: Reporting in eMedical for Civil Surgeons - Livestream

Washington's TB Project ECHO

On Tuesdays 12:30-1:30 pm PT, 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. Click here for more information about this local project and our partners who make this ongoing event possible.

SEATRAC Seminar Series

SEATRAC hosts and promotes seminars, one Friday session per month from 12 - 1 PM, focused on TB basic and clinical sciences by local trainees', local and visiting faculty, and special guests.

2024 ECHO Colorado Newcomer Health Series

In partnership with ECHO Colorado, the Minnesota Center of Excellence hosts a monthly training on newcomer health on the last Tuesday of each month at 8:00 AM, PT. This series is designed to increase medical providers' knowledge of the resettlement and health issues of newcomers, including refugee, immigrant, and migrant (RIM) populations. More information here.

Articles

Mortality Rates after Tuberculosis Treatment, Georgia, USA, 2008–2019

Emerging Infectious Diseases | 11/2024 | doi #: 10.3201/eid3011.240329

Video Recordings and Education Opportunities

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

Rutgers TB Institute Webinar Archives
CE units are not available for these archives. Access here.

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

SNTC Online Courses
CME units are offered for these trainings. Access here.

CDC: TB 101 for Health Care Workers
CE units expire on 11/6/2025 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®.

Tools and Resources

Minnesota's Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health

• Access helpful tools, trainings, and updates for newcomers and refugee health here.

CDC

• 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 - 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).

Southeastern National TB Center

• Individualized Country Guides

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