July 2025

🔍Did You Know (DYK)? 

NTIP Indicator of the Month – Sputum Culture Result Reported

DYK the National Tuberculosis Indicators Project (NTIP) is a web-based tool that utilizes nationally set indicators to measure program progress toward achieving the National Tuberculosis (TB) Objectives? Using NTIP indicator reports, TB program officials prioritize prevention and care activities, as well as program evaluation. This month, the NTIP indicator of the month is focusing on the reporting of a sputum culture result for patients with TB disease who are alive at diagnosis, 12 years or older and have a pleural or respiratory site of disease.

Sputum should always be collected for patients being evaluated for TB disease. Collecting spontaneous sputum is always the easiest way to culture Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB); Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) might consider providing coaching for providers and patients on quality sputum collection or using nebulizer kits as a tool for quality sample collection and timeliness. Additional details on collecting sputum for TB can be found here.

Why this indicator is important? Once a culture is grown and MTB isolated, drug sensitivities and genotyping can be performed, confirming that a patient has TB disease and is on an appropriate treatment regimen. These results can then be used to assist with contact identification and to ensure that any exposed persons diagnosed with TB infection or disease are prescribed appropriate treatment.

Washington State has consistently been above the national average when documenting sputum culture results for patients with TB disease over the past four (4) years and exceeded the NTIP 2030 target of 98% in 2023. Washington State's commitment to ensuring all patients receive the highest quality of TB care, including collecting sputum from all patients (even those with extrapulmonary TB), will be key to sustaining this exceptional level of performance.

Questions about NTIP? Reach out the WA DOH TB Program at tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

Information for Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs)

Public Health Lab Courier Service

Shipping clinical specimens to the Public Health Laboratory? The courier service is available through June 30, 2026. If you have any questions about the courier service, please contact us at tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

Please note: If you're shipping specimens via the courier service, a shipping box is not required (Step 6 of Packaging Instructions on page 2 of Washington State Public Health Lab TB Specimen Submission Instructions). Please do follow Steps 1-5.

📢 CDC Printed TB Materials Warehouse Closing Soon

The CDC will be closing its Printed Publications Warehouse in September 2025. The last day to place orders for printed materials is now August 15, 2025 (moved up from the originally announced September deadline). The CDC’s Publications Warehouse currently offers more than 1,000 items, including TB fact sheets, posters, booklets, and Think. Test. Treat TB. campaign materials, many of which are available in multiple languages.

While printed materials will no longer be distributed, electronic versions will continue to be available. You can also access and download materials via CDC Publications On Demand. For any questions about TB materials or the warehouse closure, please reach out directly to tbinfo@cdc.gov.

💊Waste TB Medications?

Please remember to report any medications obtained by your LHJ from the WA DOH TB Program that your program had to dispose of. We request that you submit this information at least quarterly or as each situation arises. June 30th is end of second quarter.
Send an email to tbservices@doh.wa.gov with the following details:

• Medication type (e.g., rifampin, isoniazid, etc.)
• Dosage (e.g., 100 mg, 300 mg, etc.)
• Number of pills that will be or were disposed of
• Which program order form was used (340B, MMCAP, or Former CDC Stockpile)
• Reason for disposal (e.g., expiration)

Note: Unopened bottles of medications can be returned to the pharmacy if you know your LHJ will not use them. Please do not return medications that are within 30 days of expiration.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us by email.

💊Changes to DOH TB Medication Formulary Due to the current high cost of rifabutin (Mycobutin) and the state projected budget shortfall, the WA DOH TB Program is planning to remove rifabutin from the TB medications offered without cost to LHJs.

As of July 1st, the WA DOH TB Program is no longer maintaining a stock of rifabutin. The current supply on the shelf may be ordered and communication will be sent out when the stock is gone.

The WA DOH TB Program will continue to monitor rifabutin for any price reductions and the opportunity to resume offering this medication.

If in the meantime there is an emergency need, please reach out to the WA DOH TB Program via email (tbservices@doh.wa.gov) to discuss. One-off rifabutin purchases based on need may be considered.

💊Using former CDC Isoniazid 300 mg

There is plenty of isoniazid 300 mg on hand from a supply obtained from the CDC. The expiration is May 2026 for a 30-count bottle. DOH TB Program staff may remind LHJs of this when orders are placed to ensure it is used. 

Please use the Former CDC Medication Stockpile order form to submit a request.

Virtual Visits for Android and iOS Phones Now Available in SureAdhere Live Virtual Visits are now available across devices in SureAdhere! Patients can join Virtual Visit video calls using just a browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge).

🚚Patient Moving? Transfer SureAdhere VDOT Records to a New LHJ

If you have a patient currently using SureAdhere for Video Directly Observed Therapy (VDOT) who is moving to another Washington State LHJ during treatment, please contact the WA DOH TB Program with the patient's SureAdhere number noted on the IJN communication.  WA DOH TB Program can work with SureAdhere to transfer the patient's  record to the new LHJ site to ensure continuity of treatment monitoring without interruption. 

Articles

Systematic Review of Contact Investigation Costs for Tuberculosis, United States

Emerging Infectious Diseases | July 2025 | doi: 10.3201/eid3107.241827

Spatiotemporal Distribution and Clinical Characteristics of Zoonotic Tuberculosis, Spain, 2018–2022

Emerging Infectious Diseases | July 2025 | doi: 10.3201/eid3107.250031

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 TB.

• July 17, 2025 | Tuberculosis and Pregnancy: Clinical Insights, Survivor Perspectives, and Resources
• August 21, 2025 | Identification and Management of Adverse Reactions in TB Treatment
• September 18, 2025 | Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

August 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025 | TB Nurse Case Management Level 1 

This Mayo Clinic Center for TB course equips nurses new to TB case management with a strong foundational understanding of the principles, practices, and responsibilities necessary to effectively manage patients with tuberculosis.

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.

• August 7, 2025 | TB Screening in the Immigration Process
• November 6, 2025 | Inside the TB Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons

TB Expert Network Unplugged

This is a joint project among CDC’s four TB Centers of Excellence and CDC. Zoom links will be announced later. 

• September 11, 2025 10:00 am - 11:30 am PST - Mayo Center for Clinical Tuberculosis (MCCT)

• October 17, 2025 9:00 am - 10:30 am PST - Global TB Institute (GTBI)

• December 11, 2025 10:0 0am - 11:30 am PST - Southeastern National TB Center (SNTC)

July 21, 2025 | New TB Treatment Guidelines: A Clinician’s Guide to the ATS/CDC/ERS/IDSA 2025 Update
Hosted by the American Thoracic Society (ATS), Tuberculosis experts Jussi Saukkonen, MD, Boston University; and Charles Daley, MD, National Jewish; will discuss the management of two active TB cases in the context of the 2025 ATS/CDC/ERS/IDSA Clinical Practice Guidelines. The session will highlight key updates, explore practical challenges, and provide clinician-focused insights into applying the new treatment recommendations in everyday practice.

August - September 2025 | 2025 Virtual National TB Conference

The registration website includes additional information about the conference sessions, the registration fees, the continuing education credits associated with the event, the 2025 Call for Abstracts, and Exhibitor and Sponsorship opportunities.

• 2025 Abstract Submission Platform welcomes the submission of abstracts for poster presentation on any aspects of tuberculosis control, care, prevention and elimination. Abstracts must be received by Friday, July 18, 2025

August 21 - September 26, 2025 | Level 1: TB Basics, Contact Investigation, and Latent TB Infection

The Curry International Tuberculosis Center (CITC) has updated its Tuberculosis Case Management and Contact Investigation Intensive by shifting from a series of live virtual trainings to a hybrid format.

August 25 - November 14, 2025 | TB Nurse Case Management

This Southeastern National TB Center (SNTC) 40-hour course focuses on the nurse case management process for tuberculosis. 

September 1 - 26, 2025 | Fundamentals of TB Contact Investigation

This SNTC 4-week course is designed for nurses and field staff new to contact investigation and covers transmission and pathogenesis of TB, deciding when to initiate an investigation, determining the start and end of the infectious period, prioritizing contacts, communication skills, and cultural and diversity considerations. 

September 29, 2025 | Focus on LTBI (Oakland, CA in-person training)

This CITC in-person training is intended as an introductory course covering the basics of latent TB infection diagnosis and treatment for physicians, nurses, and other licensed medical care providers who manage patients at risk for TB.

October 6 - 24, 2025 | Foundations in TB Diagnosis and Treatment

This SNTC 3-week course was designed for healthcare providers new to TB and covers all aspects of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment.

October 8-9, 2025 | TB Clinical Intensive 2025

This Mayo Clinic conference provides healthcare professionals with the latest insights on tuberculosis (TB), including screening, diagnosis, and treatment of active TB and latent TB infection (LTBI). 

Washington's TB Project ECHO

On Tuesdays 12:30-1:30 pm PT, join the 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.

Video Recordings and Education Opportunities

Mayo Clinic Innovations in Tuberculosis (TB) Webinar Series

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

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

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

SNTC Online Courses
CME units are offered for these trainings. 

CDC

• TB 101 for Health Care Workers CE units expire on 11/6/2025. 
• Efficacy and Safety of 4-Month Rifapentine-Based Tuberculosis Treatments in Persons with Diabetes CME unit expires on 2/24/2026. 

The Union

• Free Online Course - Interpretation of Chest X-Rays in Children with Presumptive TB
• Online Course on Management of Child and Adolescent Tuberculosis

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 and Immigrant 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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