Author: Kailee Curtis

Tuberculosis Control

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is transmitted (spread) through the air from one person to another. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. Michigan local health departments work with a variety of health care and laboratory partners to control the spread of TB through testing, treatment, prevention, control, and education.

Key Positions
Public Health Nurses	Funding for this activity / falls under communicable disease control
Clinic Staff
Public Health Physician

BEDHD administered 323 TB screening skin tests during 2017.

FY17 Funding Sources for BEDHD TB Testing:

Alignment Guided by:

ü	Michigan Public Health Code
ü	Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation
ü	Public Health Accreditation Board

Health Improvement Efforts:

	Barry Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan
	Eaton Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan

Aligns with BEDHD Strategic Priorities:

Local Funding

Public & Private Health Insurance

Fees

Services:
The Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) is the primary agency responsible for preventing and controlling TB in Barry and Eaton counties. However, TB control is a complex undertaking and requires that BEDHD collaborate with a broad range of persons, organizations, and institutions. BEDHD’s essential roles are to plan, coordinate, and evaluate TB control and prevention efforts. To fulfill these roles, BEDHD engages in TB contact investigations, linking TB patients and their contacts to clinical and diagnostic services, in-home directly observed therapy, training and education, surveillance, data management, and monitoring and evaluation.

A strong, healthy start in life
Enhance involvement, engagement, and collaboration
Protect the community from potential healthy hazards

Goals:
BEDHD’s TB control program prevents and controls the spread of TB by:
Identifying cases through testing and reporting
Treating active cases through directly observed therapy
Recommending and instituting infection control measures
Providing education to patients, health care providers, and the community
Ensuring timely reporting of cases to the state health department

Impact: From 2015-2017, BEDHD spent an average of 82 hours each year to monitor directly observed therapy for active TB patients.