Tuberculosis For Health Professionals
Below you can find tuberculosis (TB) information and tools for health care professionals.
Reporting and Surveillance
Active tuberculosis (TB) disease is a Category I reportable condition in Wisconsin. Latent TB infection is a Category II reportable condition in Wisconsin.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The Wisconsin TB Program encourages clinicians to use the resources on the page linked below for the diagnosis and treatment of TB disease or latent TB infection.
Precautions
Health care personnel are potentially exposed to TB during health care activities. Facilities should establish TB infection control programs.
Nurse Care Management
Nurse care management helps ensure adherence to the TB treatment plan. Nurse case managers connect patients with needed clinical and social services throughout treatment.
Non-Risk-Based (Required) TB Screening and Testing
People without risk factors may need screening as a condition of employment, enrollment in school, admission to a health care facility, or for other reasons.
WEDSS
The Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS) is a secure, web-based system designed to facilitate reporting, investigation, and surveillance of TB and latent TB infection (LTBI).
Latent TB infection medication
Latent TB infection medication availability (Last updated 3/26/24)*
Stable availability: Isoniazid (INH), Rifampin (4R), Rifapentine (3HP)
*If new orders exceed supply, priority will be given to TB contacts and those with high-risk factors, F-02314 (PDF).
For LTBI medications in pill form, automatic refills will be dispensed. For liquid or compounded medication, please complete the following steps to send a refill request:
- Fill out the medical refill request form, F-44126 (PDF).
- Upload it to the filing cabinet in WEDSS.
- Change the status to "LTBI Medication refill order."
Please note that, as of 7/18/22, automatic refills are resumed for both 3HP and 4R.
- If you are obtaining 3HP or rifampin through another pharmacy, ensure that they have enough medication set aside to complete the entire course of treatment for your patient.
- Continue to check your email and this webpage for the most up to date information on LTBI medication supplies.
- Email the Wisconsin TB Program with any questions: DHSWITBProgram@dhs.wisconsin.gov, or by calling 608-261-6319.
TB events
2024 Wisconsin Virtual Tuberculosis (TB) Summit (Spring 2024): Join local, state, and national experts to learn more about TB, in Wisconsin and their work to understand and improve care for people diagnosed with TB across our community. 2024 sessions include:
- TB Epidemiology and Resources: Local, State, and National
- TB Challenges:
- Culture Negative TB
- Dealing with Drug Rashes
- Drug-resistant TB Outbreak in the WI Corrections System
- TB Infection and Disease: Personal Perspectives on Living with TB
- Ask the Experts: Your TB Questions Answered
Check out the 2024 Wisconsin TB Summit Digital Program (PDF) for the full event schedule.
Recorded webinars from the Wisconsin TB Program:
- IGRA for Nurses (September 27, 2022): Learn about Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood tests and how they are used to identify patients with past or infection with TB. This knowledge will allow nurses to identify which indeterminate or borderline test results require follow-up.
- TB 101 (August 24, 2021): Learn general concepts about TB. View the recorded webinar.
- DHS TBLTBI Training for New Staff (April, 2023): A webinar by the Wisconsin TB Program introducing TB and LTBI concepts and reporting for new LTHD staff. View the recording of this webinar. View the recorded webinar.
- Financial Assistance through the Wisconsin Tuberculosis Program (PDF) (Sept. 14, 2021): Geared towards local health departments, learn more about resources available for evaluating and treating patients with TB and latent TB infection, including the TB Dispensary and the TB Treatment Assistance Programs. View the recorded webinar.
- Evaluation for TB Disease and TB Case Management (PDF) (Sept. 28, 2021): Learn about nurse care management for active TB disease. View the recorded webinar.
- The TB Laboratory (PDF) (Oct. 12, 2021, Simon, reproduced with permission): Learn about collecting specimens and interpreting testing for TB. View the recorded webinar.
Check out additional archived webinars from the Bureau of Communicable Diseases.
2023 Wisconsin Mycobacteriology Laboratory Network Conference (WMLN) (Nov. 8, 2023): Stay tuned for more information about the 2024 WMLN Conference! The annual WMLN conference is a forum for participants to share information and discuss issues related to maintaining state-wide excellence in mycobacteriology testing. This workshop is intended for laboratory professionals currently performing mycobacteria culture or identification. It is also intended for public health personnel involved in mycobacteria case management or mycobacteria prevention efforts.
Questions about TB? Contact us
Email: DHSWITBProgram@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Phone: 608-261-6319 ǀ Fax: 608-266-0049