2024 PITCA Conference Presentations

Please note not all presentations are available based on faculty request. If you are looking for a presentation not listed below, please reach out to the speaker directly. Faculty list can be found here.

Tuesday, October 22

Plenary Session 1: Community Voices & Jurisdiction Updates
Jurisdiction Update: American Samoa – Not Available
Jurisdiction Update: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands – Not Available
Jurisdiction Update: Federated States of Micronesia

Plenary Session 2: Jurisdiction Updates (Continued)
Jurisdiction Update: Guam
Jurisdiction Update: Republic of the Marshall Islands
Jurisdiction Update: Republic of Palau – Not Available

Plenary Session 3: Capacity Building and Active Case Finding
Update on the Pacific Islands TB Nurses Network (PITBNN) – Not Available
Results from Mass Screening Efforts in the Marshall Islands
Update from TB-Free Chuuk: Phase 1, 2, 3 – Not Available
Population-Wide Active TB Case Finding and Prevention: The Kiribati Experience

Plenary Session 4: TB Treatment and Diagnostics
Extrapulmonary TB: Clinical and Programmatic Approaches
Update on TB and Diabetes – Not Available
Laboratory Update: What’s New – Not Available

Wednesday, October 23

Laboratory Break Out
Guam – Updates on Laboratory Operations
Republic of the Marshall Islands – Updates on Laboratory Operations
Kosrae – Updates on Laboratory Operations
Pohnpei – Updates on Laboratory Operations
Chuuk – Updates on Laboratory Operations – Not Available
American Samoa – Updates on Laboratory Operations – Not Available
Ebeye – Updates on Laboratory Operations – Not Available
Palau – Updates on Laboratory Operations – Not Available
Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands – Updates on Laboratory Operations – Not Available
PIHOA Update
DLS Overview & Updates
Comparing the Effectiveness of AFB Smear and GeneXpert in Detecting RIF Resistance
Experiences Learned Using ULTRA Cartridges
Challenges in TB Laboratory Workflows: Analyzing Common Challenges Faced by TB Labs & Potential Solutions
Risk Assessment Lab Updates – Not Available

Program Manager Break Out
Guam – USAPI Standards for the Management of Tuberculosis & Diabetes: 14 Years Later Where Are We Now?
Federated States of Micronesia – USAPI Standards for the Management of Tuberculosis & Diabetes: 14 Years Later Where Are We Now?
Republic of the Marshall Islands – USAPI Standards for the Management of Tuberculosis & Diabetes: 14 Years Later Where Are We Now?
Palau – USAPI Standards for the Management of Tuberculosis & Diabetes: 14 Years Later Where Are We Now? – Not Available  
American Samoa – USAPI Standards for the Management of Tuberculosis & Diabetes: 14 Years Later Where Are We Now? – Not Available
Guam – How We Structure & Manage Our Leprosy Program  
Republic of the Marshall Islands – How We Structure & Manage Our Leprosy Program  
Palau – How We Structure & Manage Our Leprosy Program – Not Available
Federated States of Micronesia – How We Structure & Manage Our Leprosy Program – Not Available
American Samoa – How We Structure & Manage Our Leprosy Program – Not Available
Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands  – How We Structure & Manage Our Leprosy Program – Not Available
TB Among Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Mainland – Not Available

Nursing & Outreach Break Out
TB 101
Understanding TB Terminology
Fundamentals of Case Management
Discussion: Strategies to Improve Data Collection, Reporting and Quality in the TB Program
Strategies to Promote Treatment Adherence and Completion

Clinical Break Out
Reading Pediatric X-Rays
Pediatric TB Case Management Pearls
Challenging TB Cases 2024 – Not Available

Joint Break Out
Advancements in TB Diagnostic Technology: Highlighting the Evolution of Diagnostic Tools and their
Impact on TB Detection – No Slides
USAPI Standards for the Management of Tuberculosis & Diabetes:14 Years Later Where Are We Going? – Not Available
Impact of Artificial Intelligence Chest X-Ray Reading During TB-Free Chuuk
Reviewing and Using Data from the TB Quarterly Statistics Form for Quality Improvements
Leprosy Diagnosis & Treatment Revisited

Thursday, October 24

NTCA Guidelines for Respiratory Isolation and Restrictions to Reduce Transmission of Pulmonary TB in Community Settings
Guam – Current Respiratory Isolation and Restriction Practices Across the USAPI and Future Plans
Federated States of Micronesia – Current Respiratory Isolation and Restriction Practices Across the USAPI and Future Plans
Palau – Current Respiratory Isolation and Restriction Practices Across the USAPI and Future Plans – Not Available
Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands – Current Respiratory Isolation and Restriction Practices Across the USAPI and Future Plans – Not Available
American Samoa  – Current Respiratory Isolation and Restriction Practices Across the USAPI and Future Plans – Not Available
Republic of the Marshall Islands – Current Respiratory Isolation and Restriction Practices Across the USAPI and Future Plans  

Plenary Session 6: Oral Presentations
TB Boom in Bangla – Not Available
Comparison of MTB/RIF and MTB/RIF-Ultra Assays for TB Diagnosis in Pohnpei State: A Retrospective Analysis of Sensitivity and Specificity
Specimen Factors Affecting Acid-Fast Bacilli Smear Results in Guam Public Health
A Challenge in the TB Specimen Collection
Discordant Lab Results Encountered in a TB Case in American Samoa – Not Available

Laboratory Break Out
Biosafety Protocols and Practices to Prevent Laboratory-Acquired Infections
Quality Control in TB Laboratory Practices – Not Available
Review of EQA Activities – Not Available
Chuuk Mass Screening – Not Available
Medical Screening of Lab Staff in Palau – Not Available

Program Manager Break Out
CDC Updates for TB Program Managers and Coordinators – Not Available
TB Contact Investigation Data from Across the USAPI – Not Available
Advancing USAPI & NTCA Relations

Nursing & Outreach Break Out
Monitoring Patients on Treatment for TB – Nurses and Outreach Workers Roles
Infection Prevention and Control

Clinical Break Out
Challenging TB Cases 2024 – Not Available
Ebeye Hospital Digital Telehealth Plan with EHR – Not Available

Joint Break Out
Diagnosis and Management of Children with TB
Chuuk High School TB Outbreak Investigation
TB Case and Contact Investigation Presentation – Not Available
When and How to Initiate a “Do Not Board”
How We Conduct Interjurisdictional TB Notifications (IJN)

Friday, October 25

Laboratory Break Out
Internal Lab Occurrence, 2023 AFB PT Failure, BSR Errors, and Two Corrective Actions – Not Available
2024 Lab Poster Presentations – Not Available

Program Manager Break Out
Boost Your Program with the PIHOA Pacific Public Health Fellowship Program – Not Available

Joint Break Out
Understanding the GeneXpert Ultra and XDR Tests and Results (Case Study)
Republic of the Marshall Islands - Sharing USAPI Examples of Patient Centered Care
Palau – Sharing USAPI Examples of Patient Centered Care – Not Available
Federated States of Micronesia – Sharing USAPI Examples of Patient Centered Care
Guam - LTBI Targeted Testing: Current Activities, Progress, Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Future Plans
Chuuk – LTBI Targeted Testing: Current Activities, Progress, Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Future Plans
Republic of Marshall Islands – LTBI Targeted Testing: Current Activities, Progress, Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Future Plans
Palau – LTBI Targeted Testing: Current Activities, Progress, Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Future Plans – Not Available
American Samoa – LTBI Targeted Testing: Current Activities, Progress, Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Future Plans – Not Available
Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands – LTBI Targeted Testing: Current Activities, Progress, Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Future Plans – Not Available

Plenary Session 7: Taking the Next Steps
Responding to TB Outbreaks Among Chuukese in Kansas – Not Available
Presentation of Jurisdiction Action Plan: Republic of Palau – Not Available
Presentation of Jurisdiction Action Plan: Republic of the Marshall Islands
Presentation of Jurisdiction Action Plan: Guam
Presentation of Jurisdiction Action Plan: Federated States of Micronesia
Presentation of Jurisdiction Action Plan: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands – Not Available
Presentation of Jurisdiction Action Plan: American Samoa – Not Available

Plenary Session 8: Closing Session
Pohnpei – Report Back from Breakout Sessions
Guam – Report Back from Breakout Sessions – No Slides
Palau – Report Back from Breakout Sessions – No Slides
American Samoa – Report Back from Breakout Sessions – No Slides
Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands – Report Back from Breakout Sessions – No Slides
Republic of the Marshall Islands – Report Back from Breakout Sessions – No Slides