Tuberculosis Program
The mission of the Jefferson County Health Department’s Tuberculosis (TB) Program is to identify, treat, and prevent the spread of tuberculosis disease and eliminate it as a public health problem in Jefferson County.
goals of the TB Program
- Evaluate and provide therapy for any individual diagnosed with suspected or confirmed tuberculosis disease (MTB) or latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI)
- Initiate a contact investigation surrounding each case of TB to identify exposed individuals in the community, evaluate those individuals for TB disease or latent tuberculosis infection, and provide therapy as needed
- Provide targeted-testing and therapy for LTBI to persons in high-risk populations such as homeless, foreign-born, correctional institutions, and substance abusers
The program achieves its goals through direct patient care, education, surveillance, and outreach.
mandated activities
- Ensure that suspected and confirmed cases of TB identified in all facilities in Jefferson County are reported to the department [Alabama Law, Act No. 87-574] and place on a confidential TB disease registry
- Conduct intensive case interviews and maintain an effective outreach program so TB cases remain under medical supervision until completion of a full course of treatment and identified contacts receive appropriate medical care
- Monitor and document treatment of all patients with active TB
- Provide consultation on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of latent TB infection and disease in Jefferson County at no cost to the patient