Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can be killed with antibiotics. There are two stages of TB: infection and disease. The following resources will assist providers with TB prevention, testing and treatment.
Report people with suspected TB disease immediately.
Call 360-778-6150 if you suspect a patient has TB. The Whatcom County Health Department will provide you with additional guidance including next steps to take.
Testing
- TB Testing
- Risk Assessments (Adult & Pediatric)
- Risk Assessment User Guides
- TB Symptom Screening
- Tuberculosis Skin Test Record
- TB Screening Record
Treatment
- Identifying High-Risk Patients – Referral Criteria
- Relative Risk Among Factors of LTBI Progression to Active TB (Chart)
- Evaluating Positive QFT & Considerations for Treatment
- Recommended Guidelines for Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI)
- LTBI Treatment Regimens – Updated 2020
Resources
- Washington DOH Page for TB
- CDC Resource Hub for LTBI
- CDC Patient Fact Sheets (multiple languages)
- Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Healthcare Settings, 2005 (CDC)
- TB 101 for Healthcare Workers (Web-based Course) (CDC)
- Incidence & Prevalence DataWashington State Data – by county
- National CDC Data
References
Best Overall Resource for TB Information
General TB and Treatment
- CDC Core Curriculum on TB: What the Clinician Should Know
- CDC—Treatment of TB Disease
- *Note: Whatcom County Health Department provides all treatment for active TB Disease among local patients.
- CDC— Spanish Language TB Main Page
- Curry International TB Center
- Washington State Department of Health (DOH) TB Page
- DOH—TB Provider Toolkit
- World Health Organization (WHO) TB Page
- CDC – Diagnosis of TB in Adults & Children
- CDC—Updated Guidelines for Using Interferon Gamma Release Assays to Detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection – United States, 2010
Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI)
- CDC—LTBI Treatment FAQs
- CDC – Guidelines for Treatment of LTBI
- CDC—Recommendations for Use of an Isoniazid-Rifapentine Regimen with Direct Observation to Treat LTBI
TB-Related Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
- Nursing Homes
- Ambulatory Surgical Facilities
For questions regarding WAC 388-97-1360 or 388-97-1600, contact Judy Johnson, Residential Care Services Program Manager, at (360) 725-2591 or judy.johnson@dshs.wa.gov.