Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria cause the treatable infection tuberculosis (TB). TB typically occurs in the lungs but can affect any part of the body. Not everyone with TB becomes sick. Symptoms of the disease include cough, fatigue, weight loss, fever and night sweats.
TB has 2 stages—latent TB infection (LTBI) and active TB disease. Many people with LTBI never develop active TB disease. Others progress from LTBI to active TB disease—often due to a weakened immune system. Active TB disease is life-threatening.
LTBI
- Do not show symptoms.
- Do not feel ill.
- Not contagious.
- May have positive TB skin reaction and blood tests.
- Usually have normal chest x-ray.
- May develop active TB disease, if left untreated.
Active TB disease
- May show symptoms.
- May feel ill.
- May be contagious.
- Have positive TB test results.
- If TB is in their lungs, will have abnormal chest x-rays.
- Need treatment to be cured.
Report suspected cases immediately.
Call the reporting line or fax the Tuberculosis reporting form to the confidential fax (253) 649-1389.
Testing
- TB Screening
- Adult TB Risk Assessment
- Pediatric TB Risk Assessment
- TB Symptom Screening
- Tuberculosis Skin Test Record
- TB Screening Record
Treatment
- Recommended Drug Regimens for Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI).
- CDC Resource Hub for LTBI.
Resources
- TB Elimination, Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR TB)
- TB in Washington State
- Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Healthcare Settings, 2005 (CDC)
- TB 101 for Healthcare Workers (Web-based Course) (CDC)
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
- CDC— Spanish Language TB Main Page
- Curry International TB Center
- Washington State Department of Health (DOH) TB Page
- DOH—TB Services Manual
- World Health Organization (WHO) TB Page
- CDC—Targeted Tuberculin Testing and Treatment of LTBI
- CDC—Updated Guidelines for Using Interferon Gamma Release Assays to Detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection – United States, 2010
Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI)
- CDC—LTBI: A Guide for Primary Healthcare Providers
- CDC—Recommendations for Use of an Isoniazid-Rifapentine Regimen with Direct Observation to Treat LTBI
TB Epidemiology
TB-Related Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
- WAC 388-97-1360 Surveillance, management and early identification of individuals with active TB
- WAC 388-97-1600 Care of residents with active TB
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.
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