November 2022

Stop TB Quiz: Test your knowledge on TB with Hello Kitty

For World Children's Day on November 20th, Stop TB has created an interactive quiz with their TB champion, Hello Kitty to bring awareness about TB in children.

Take the quiz here.

Rifapentine Shortage

Recently the manufacturer, Sanofi, was completely out of rifapentine. The manufacturer is once again allocating the product to drug wholesalers, like Cardinal or Mckesson. But until they have sufficient supply to meet customer demand, these allocations will be a percentage based on past patterns of usage.

If needed, place a backorder and then notify your drug wholesalers' sales representative know that you have a backorder waiting (or ask your pharmacy to do so).

DOH TB Program has notified NTCA (National TB Controllers' Association) of this issue, so that they can work with the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) on this issue impacting our TB patients.

We do not know the length of time this manufacturer issue will affect supplies but will keep you informed as more details become available.

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 run into difficulties ordering TB medications or supplies at [email protected].

Information for Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs)

TB Year-End Activities

                              

• We are on track for early January 2023 deployment of RVCT V3 in WDRS
• We will be reaching out with line lists and instructions for case counting, data cleanup, and end of year closeout. We are awaiting confirmation of year-end dates from CDC. 

Updates for these activities, and training dates and registration links for RVCT V3 training sessions, will be posted to the TB Data Resources SharePoint site as they are available.

Email [email protected] with any questions or concerns or to request access to the SharePoint.

New Washington State Public Health Laboratory (WA PHL) Email

The WA PHL has shared that all special TB lab testing requests should be communicated to to the new [email protected] email. This would include requests such as MDDR, 2nd line DST, and NAAT testing that is not GeneXpert, CDC pathology testing, etc

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 [email protected].

Upcoming Events and Education Opportunities

November 15, 2022 | Rutgers LTBI ECHO Series: LTBI Advanced Considerations

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. 

November 17, 2022 | TB Education and Training Network (TB ETN) Webinar 

This TB ETN webinar will highlight the County of San Diego TB Peer Educator Program, which taught high school students about tuberculosis. Register here. 

November 17, 2022 | Public Health and Media Communications Training

Stop TB and Rutgers Gobal TB Center will be hosting this communications training. 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.

• November 17, 2022: Part 6 - U.S. Experience After Immigration

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.

• November 29, 2022: Afghan Health Considerations
• More sessions in 2023

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.

• December 1, 2022: Hosted by Curry International TB Center

December 16, 2022 | TB Grand Rounds: Use of BPaL Regimen and MDR TB Update

This regularly scheduled series from Rutgers highlights case presentations and lectures on a wide range of relevant topics in TB. More information here.

December 5-8, 2022 | Pacific Islands Tuberculosis Controllers Association (PITCA) Conference

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

Discover how AI tech is being used to detect tuberculosis

World Economic Forum | 9/2022 | Read here

Global Tuberculosis Report 2022

World Health Organization | 10/2022 | Read here

Tuberculosis deaths and disease increase during the COVID-19 pandemic

World Health Organization | 10/2022 | Read here

Pipeline Report 2022: Tuberculosis Vaccines

Treatment Action Group | 10/2022 | Read here

Video Recordings and Education Opportunities

Heartland National TB Center Panel Physician Webcast Series Recordings

Recordings and handouts for this six-part series are now available for for viewing. Access here. 

CITC Archived Webinars

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

• *New* Bridges to Build: TB Along the Border (aired 10/11/2022)

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!

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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