Healthcare Providers

This page offers resources to assist health care professionals in providing tuberculosis (TB) care. Please contact tbservices@doh.wa.gov if you:

• Need assistance finding a resource of have resource suggestions.
• Are local health jurisdiction staff or a health officer and would like to obtain access to the TB Partners SharePoint for more public health-specific resources.

Need information on TB screening, testing, and treatment of health care personnel? Go to Facilities and Occupational Health.

Local Public Health

Your local public health authority is a useful resource for TB-related questions. If you suspect active TB, it is required that you report it to your local public health jurisdiction.

Screening

Guidelines 

• USPSTF Final Recommendation Statement for Latent Tuberculosis Infection: Screening 
  U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for TB infection in populations at increased risk. 
• TB Services & Standards Manual Chapter 7: Diagnosis of Latent TB Infection (TB Partners SharePoint access only)

Tools 

• Adult TB Risk Assessment (PDF) 
  Use this tool to identify asymptomatic adults for latent TB infection (LTBI) testing. 
• Pediatric TB Risk Assessment, WA DOH 
  Use this tool to identify asymptomatic children for LTBI testing. 

Testing

Guidelines 

• Testing and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in the United States: Clinical Recommendations, NTCA 

• Clinical Practice Guidelines: Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Adults and Children, ATS/IDSA/CDC
  Recommendations about the diagnosis of TB infection and TB disease in adults and children. 

Tools 

• The BCG World Atlas 
  Provides information on BCG policies and practice for over 180 countries to assist clinicians with interpretation of TB diagnostics. 
• TST in 3D 
  This online TST/IGRA interpreter estimates the risk of active tuberculosis for an adult based on his/her reaction to a tuberculin skin test (TST) or Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) and clinical profile. 
• TST Ruler (PDF) 
  Used to measure the raised skin reaction from a TST. Available to order from this CDC webpage. 
• Tuberculin Skin Test Record (PDF) 
  This publication records skin testing information. 
• Radiology Resources, Curry International TB Center (CITC) 

Treatment

Guidelines 

• LTBI Treatment Guidance in Washington State, updated 12/2020 (PDF) and LTBI Treatment Quick Reference Sheet (PDF).
  Provides guidance on using rifamycin-based, shorter course regimens for treating LTBI. 
• Testing and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in the United States: Clinical Recommendations, NTCA 
• Treatment of Drug Susceptible Tuberculosis, ATS/IDSA/CDC
• Latent TB Infection Resources, CDC 
  CDC's one-stop-shop for LTBI information, guidance, and educational materials. 
• TB Services & Standards Manual Chapter 8: Treatment of Latent TB Infection
  TB Partners SharePoint access only

Tools 

• TB Free California Resources for Providers 
• Includes scripts of how to talk to patients about LTBI, a 3HP drug interactions guide, LTBI treatment cards, etc. Provides guidelines for treating HIV and TB together. 
• Nursing Guide for Managing Side Effects to Drug-resistant TB Treatment 
  This provides guidance for all TB medications, not just those used to treatment drug resistant TB.

Patient Education

• Centers of Excellence (COE) TB Training and Education Products
  Educational materials developed by the CDC-funded TB CoEs
• CDC's Find TB Resources Website
  The information on Find TB Resources is made available as a public service. Neither the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Prevention Information Network nor WA DOH endorses the organizations, websites, and materials presented. It is the responsibility of the user to evaluate this information prior to use based on individual, community, and organizational needs and standards.
• Clients and the Public

Consultation

• Contact your local public health TB Program 
• Contact WA DOH TB Nurse and Medical Consultants with your questions at (206) 418-5500 or email tbservices@doh.wa.gov 
• TB Project ECHO 
  A videoconference meeting tor clinicians to get consultation on TB infection or TB disease cases and participate in case-based learning and TB-related didactics. 
• Curry International Tuberculosis Center (CITC) Warmline Consultation Service