Northeastern Spotlight

TB Programs Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reflections on Why TB Programs are Well-Positioned to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic

One of the most successful but paradoxically unheralded models of public health interventions has been contact investigation for tuberculosis. Following on the early success of what were then investigations of the contacts of individuals with sexually transmitted diseases, follow up of contacts of patients with TB and MDR-TB, invariably spread by respiratory droplets, led to identification and isolation of other active TB cases. Identification of contacts also allowed them to receive treatment for their TB infection, making possible preventive therapy to treat those infected before they could advance to full blown active and infectious TB. Contact investigation for TB was so successful that it was soon recognized as the backbone of all successful TB programs, and TB investigators, through their close personal relationship with their patients, were universally and appropriately recognized for their contribution to ongoing successes in infection control...Read More

Product Highlights
Latent TB Infection (LTBI) Videos for Primary Care Providers

We have updated two of the brief videos in this series on LTBI to reflect the latest CDC guidelines. Though the videos are intended for primary care providers, especially those working in community settings, they may be useful for other providers as well...Read More

News and Announcements
Contributions of TB Programs to the COVID-19 Response

TB clinicians and program staff across the country have stepped up to contribute their experience in fighting another infectious disease killer to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. As widespread contact tracing efforts get under way, public health staff working in TB will be called upon for their longstanding knowledge and skills in interviewing patients...Read More