October 2022

*New* “Assessing Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment Needs Among Community Health Center Serving Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders” Report 

This report from the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) and the TB Elimination Alliance (TEA) shares new 2022 data on the challenges and best practices of 20 Asian, Asian American (A/AA), Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (NH/PI)-serving community health centers (CHCs).

*New* Management of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Pregnant and Peripartum People: A Field Guide

This new 2022 document guide was released by the Sentinel Project and is designed to support the care of pregnant and peripartum people living with DR-TB and the neonates born to them.

*Update* CDC's Uniting for Ukraine: Tuberculosis Information and Resources Webpage

This CDC webpage now contains links to Russian-language patient resources to assist TB Programs involved in the “Uniting for Ukraine” program.

Rumor busting: TB Medications or Supply Shortage?

Are you hearing something about a shortage and are concerned? Here are some resources you can easily check to confirm if there really is a shortage:

FDA Device Shortage List

FDA maintains a list of medical device shortages during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. (This list includes masks, syringes etc.,)

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 have difficultly ordering TB medications or supplies at [email protected].

Information for Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs)

*Updated Document* Washington State Public Health Lab (PHL) TB Specimen Submission Instructions

This document was recently updated by the DOH TB Program and Washington State PHL. It includes TB specimen collection, labeling, packaging, and shipping instructions when using the free courier service to deliver TB specimens from LHJs to the PHL.

Upcoming Washington Disease Reporting System (WDRS) changes for Tuberculosis (TB)

State Board of Health updates to reporting Race, Ethnicity, and Language      

Anticipated implementation date has been updated to: November 21, 2022

Among other updates in the Notifiable Conditions WAC, Chapter 246-101, are updates to the specifications for reporting patient Race, Ethnicity, and Language for notifiable conditions. WDRS TB events will soon reflect additional selection options for these self-identified fields, including a ‘declined to answer’ option.

• Any questions about utilizing these fields after this change is implemented can be directed to [email protected].
• Questions about the Notifiable Conditions rules and implementation can be sent to [email protected].
• More information about this update can also be located on the State Board of Health Rulemaking page.

RVCT V3 reporting updates                                   

Anticipated implementation date: Early 2023.

Updates originally projected to launch in September 2022 have been delayed due to state-mandated Race, Ethnicity, and Language update implementation. Continuing updates on this timeline will be shared via the TB newsletter, TB Partners SharePoint page, and the Rainier Suite User Group (RSUG), also called the WDRS User Group (WUG).

Contact [email protected] to request access to the TB Partners SharePoint page if needed. 

Phlebotomy Training Available

The DOH TB Program is now 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

October 6, 2022 | The Inaugural Inter-CFAR Mycobacteria Symposium

Sponsored by Harvard University CFAR and Providence/Boston CFAR A hybrid, this synergistic symposium is focused on the intersection of clinical and research topics in TB, non-tuberculous mycobacteria, and TB/HIV co-infection. Register here.

October 6-7, 2022 | TB Medical Consultants Meeting

Save-the-date for this GTBI meeting. More information will be available here. 

October 11, 2022 | Bridges to Build: TB Along the Border

This CITC training focuses on the binational community’s experience, access to care and the quality of care they receive. Register here. 

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.

• October 6, 2022: Hosted by Heartland National TB Center
• December 8, 2022: Hosted by Curry International TB Center

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.

• October 20, 2022: Part 5 - Clinical Presentation, Evaluation and Treatment of TB Disease in Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women
• 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.

• October 25, 2022: Introduction to Refugee Resettlement
• November 29, 2022: Afghan Health Considerations
• More sessions in 2023

October 2022 | Fundamentals of TB Contact Investigation

This Rutgers Global TB Institute online training will introduce learners to the fundamental concepts of TB contact investigations. More information here. 

November 8-11, 2022 | The Union World Conference on Lung Health

The Union's 2022 virtual conference theme is "combating pandemics: today and tomorrow". More information here. 

September - November, 2022 | Rutgers LTBI ECHO Series

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. 

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

Timing of TST or IGRA in relation to JYNNEOS vaccine

CDC Dear Colleague Letter | 9/2022 | Read here

TB Notes #3, 2022

CDC Division of TB Elimination (DTBE) | 9/2022 | Read here

Video Recordings and Education Opportunities

#EndTB Webinar Recordings

At this webinar (aired 7/8/2022), the World Health Organization, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the University of Oslo discuss the guidance, products and support available to countries for implementing digital case-based surveillance for TB. Available to view in English, Arabic, and Russian.

Heartland National TB Center Panel Physician Webcast Series Recordings

Recordings and handouts available for viewing. Access here. 

• Part 1: Review of Panel Physician Guidelines, 6/16/2022
• Part 2: Global Epidemiology of TB in Children, Adolescents and Pregnant Patients, 7/14/2022
• Part 3: IGRAs, the TST, and Treatment of TB Infection, 9/1/2022

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.

• 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.

World Health Organization (WHO)

• WHO operational handbook on tuberculosis: Module 3: Diagnosis: Tests for tuberculosis infection  9/30/2022

View as Webpage