Tuberculosis

MISSION: FIND TB, TREAT TB, AND PREVENT TB

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that is caused by a bacterium called the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. It is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, shouts, etc. After an individual is exposed to TB, they can become infected (Latent TB) or they can develop the active disease (TB). If an individual has active TB, they must be referred immediately, to the Baltimore City Health Department, as they will require case management and treatment.

ALL TB SERVICES ARE OFFERED FREE. ***If you need TB CONSULTATION SERVICES- please call 410-396-9413

Please complete *** TB REFERRAL FORM FOR THE BALTIMORE CITY TB PROGRAM*** EITHER BY:

• Fax the above TB form to our secure fax at 410-396-9403 
  
  OR
   
•  Complete the form electronically with the: Qualtrics TB referral online here

WHEN TO REFER FOR ACTIVE TB

• All confirmed active TB disease (microbiological confirmation) must be reported to the Baltimore City Health Department for case management and treatment.
• All active TB disease (clinically diagnosed without microbiological confirmation) must be reported to the Baltimore City Health Department for case management and empiric treatment.
• An individual being evaluated for active TB disease (presumptive TB), whom you need a consultation with, may be reported to the Baltimore City Health Department.
• *** Please refer active TB cases quickly to the TB clinic so that case management and treatment can begin quickly.

WHEN TO REFER FOR LATENT TB        

• An individual with diagnosed LTBI, who does not have insurance to pay for TB medications.  
• An individual experiencing any barriers to their latent TB evaluation (difficulty obtaining the chest x-ray, QuantiFERON Plus, sputa collection (if concerned for active TB), and TB medications.
• An individual who is high risk; i.e. (HIV, immunocompromised, hx: incarceration, hx; homelessness, recently immigrated to the US, contact to an active TB case) who needs assistance with an LTBI evaluation.
• A recent immigrant, refugee, asylum seeker in need of LTBI services or has immigrated from a TB endemic country.
• Is a Contact to an active case
• An individual that cannot access LTBI services due

TB SERVICES PROVIDED

• Nurse Case management and expert Medical TB management; including lab work, sputa, and imaging for Latent TB, Active TB, and Presumptive TB (Individuals being evaluated for active TB).                                                           
• TB medication for LTBI or Daily Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) for active TB.
• Referrals to outside services and providers as needed.
• Contact Investigations are conducted on all infectious active TB cases.

***LATENT TB INFECTION (LTBI)

LTBI is now a reportable infection in the State of Maryland (2018) All new individuals diagnosed with LTBI must be reported to the Maryland Department of Health.

LTBI reporting form_fillable.pdf (maryland.gov)

The Baltimore City TB program DOES NOT:

• Perform Pre-employment TB screening (skin test/ppd testing, chest x-rays)
• Walk-ins  (appointments only)
• Radiology Services are no longer offered on-site.

***Helpful Tools and Links for Community Providers

• Expert Infectious Disease (ID) consultation, via Rutgers Global Tuberculosis Institute (GTBI), via a system called ID Crowd.
  Global TB Center at rutgers.edu
  Rutgers Global Tuberculosis Institute (GTBI) Account/Login
   
• New CDC guidelines for testing Health Care Workers 
  Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment of U.S. Health Care Personnel: Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019 | MMWR
   
• Maryland Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Tuberculosis, 3rd edition,  (updated 2019)
  Maryland Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Tuberculosis 2019
   
• HIV/LTBI drug interactions and guidelines:

Location & Telephone

Eastern Chest Clinic
1200 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 410 396 9413  Fax: 410-396-9403 

Transportation

Metro Subway - Shot Tower stop

MTA buses

• Blue
• Orange
• Purple

Portable Document Format (PDF): https://get.adobe.com/reader/