March 2023

World TB Day (WTBD) is March 24th!

This year's theme is 'Yes! We can end TB!'. WTBD is an opportunity to recognize our achievements in TB prevention and control and renew our commitment to eliminating this devastating disease in the United States. 

Regional Event Information

• WTBD at TB ECHO will take place on Monday, March 27th at 12:30 - 1:30 PM, PT. Register here
• Registration for the March 24th UCSF World TB Symposium has been extended to Friday, March 17th at 5:00 PM, PT. Register here.
• SEATRAC, University of Washington, and Emory Georgia TRAC is hosting World TB Day 2023 on Friday, March 24th at 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, PT. This hybrid event features researches giving updates on their current projects. Register here.
• View the list of national events on the CDC World TB Day website.

Congratulations to Xuan Man, 2023 CDC U.S. TB Elimination Champion

We are proud to announce that Xuan Man from Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has been chosen as a TB Elimination Champion for her tireless efforts to end TB in the United States. Read more about Xuan and the other TB Elimination Champions here.

New Addition to the Tuberculosis Lab

The Tuberculosis Lab at the Public Health Laboratory expands its instrument family in our state's efforts to eliminate tuberculosis in Washington! The new Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) system is fully automated to grow mycobacteria at high volume, detect their growth, and test for their drug susceptibility.

Surrounding the new instrument are Ashley Sweetman, Alicia Terrenzio, Philip Dykema, TJ Johnson, Ryan Ortiguerra, and Kate Hawkins.

Information for Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs)

Save-the-date for our virtual Washington TB LHJ Workshop!

May 24, 2023 from 9 am - 12 pm, PT. More information will be available soon.

TB Partners SharePoint Updates 

The Medications page includes the latest order forms, medication shortage updates, and program information.

Please contact tbservices@doh.wa.gov if you are experiencing SharePoint access issues or would like to request access.

Medication Tracking Log Reminders

Remember to track your TB medications from the time of ordering to your patient receiving them.

Important: Double check the shipping/packing slip to confirm which medication program was used to obtain the medication (i.e., 340B, MMCAP or former CDC). On occasion, CDC or MMCAP medications will be used if there are shipping delays for 340B program medication orders.

Examples of medication tracking logs for download and adaptation for your LHJ's use are found on the TB Partners SharePoint.

Phlebotomy Training Available

The DOH TB Program is 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

Newcomer Health ECHO

This ECHO Colorado series is designed to increase medical providers' knowledge of the resettlement and health issues of newcomers, including refugee, immigrant and migrant (RIM) populations. These virtual sessions are held on the last Tuesday of the month. More information here.

• March 20, 2023: Tuberculosis
• April 25, 2023: Hepatitis B - Pediatrics
• May 30, 2023: Hepatitis B - Adults
• and more

April 5-7, 2023 | 59th Annual Denver TB Course

This National Jewish Health Course provides a broad overview of active and latent TB including its epidemiology, transmission, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and management. More information here.

Thursdays in April 2023 | Quality Improvement Strategies for Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) Prevention and Care in Asian, Asian American (A/AA), and Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (NH/PI)- Serving Health Centers: National Clinical Quality Measure Development" Learning Collaborative

From the TB Elimination Alliance, apply for the four-week Learning Collaborative by March 22 at PM to gain in-depth knowledge and best practices on how to empower patients at health centers through strategies that effectively address LTBI/TB prevention and quality improvement approaches in their communities. CME/CEUs available. Register here.

June 12-15, 2023 | 2023 National TB Conference

The in-person National TB Conference will take place in Atlanta, GA. If you have any questions about the 2023 TB conferences, email Sherry Brown (NTCA).

Mycobacterium Interest Group Seminar Series

The Seattle TB Research Advancement Center (SEATRAC) holds monthly Friday sessions (typically on the fourth Friday) which features both basic science and clinical science presentations. 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

Risk for Prison-to-Community Tuberculosis Transmission, Thailand, 2017–2020

Emerging Infectious Diseases | 3/2023 | doi: 10.3201/eid2903.221023

Update of drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment guidelines: A turning point

International Journal of Infectious Diseases | 3/2023 | doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.03.013

TB and Women, on International Women’s Day 2023

TB Alliance | 3/2023

Frozen cells reveal a clue for a vaccine to block the deadly TB bug

NPR | 3/2023

The human proton pump inhibitors inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis rifampicin efflux and macrophage-induced rifampicin tolerance

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | 2/2023 | doi: 10.1073/pnas.2215512120

Common heartburn drugs could speed up tuberculosis treatment

UK Research and Innovation | 2/2023

The Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS) calculator—a consensus-based decision tool for initiating antitubercular therapy in ocular tuberculosis

Eye | 6/2022 | doi: 10.1038/s41433-022-02147-7 | Limited access

• COTS Calculator

Video Recordings and Education Opportunities

TB Education & Training Network

• *New Recording* San Diego TB Peer Educator Project (aired 11/17/2023)

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.

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.

• When TB is the Least of Their Worries: Mini-Course Series (expires 9/3/2025)

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 - 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 (Heartland products and training materials will soon be found on the new 2023-2027 TB COE sites)

Southeastern National TB Center

• Individualized Country Guides

View as Webpage