Treatment of LTBI no matter if it is for HCW in patient care or non-patient care should always be offer treatment as number one effort. They also should be part of the annual risk assessment if they have risk for activation of inactive LTBI. Rational: 80% of active TB comes from LTBI. If LTBI individuals should be active in the work force they can cause spread of illness to co-workers. Additionally many non-patient care employees work and walk  around patient care areas (though not directly with patients) thus cause great public concerns and difficulty with incident investigation.

The goal is to avoid the development of active TB,  thus saving money and time and PR issues.

William Scott MD, MPH, FACOEM, FACPM

Head, Occupational Medicine and Employee Health

From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces+william.scott=carle.com@mylist.net> On Behalf Of Therese Bovee-McKelvey
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2019 2:21 PM
To: 'mcoh-eh@mylist.net' <mcoh-eh@mylist.net>
Subject: [EXT] [MCOH-EH] 2019 CDC TB Recommendations

_______________________________
*****EXTERNAL EMAIL SOURCE*****

For those who are making or have made changes to your TB screening program, what are you doing with non-treated LTBI staff who don’t provide patient care and don’t work in patient care areas.  We didn’t included them (Admin, IT, etc.) in annual TB screening/testing requirements previously.  With CDC changes are facilities now including them in annual risk assessments.  Would like to hear what others are doing if you can share.

I’ve been waiting for the CDC to publish the companion document they have but am having to move forward with changes for our facility.  We’ll include them in annual risk assessments going forward.

Thank you,

Therese Bovee McKelvey, MN, RN Supervisor - Employee Health

425.899.2278 (P)  |  425.899.2277 (F)  | TMBoveeMcKelvey@evergreenhealth.com

EvergreenHealth MS-42, 12040 NE 128th St., Kirkland, WA 98034

DISCLAIMER:
EvergreenHealth Confidentiality Notice: This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message or you may call EvergreenHealth in Kirkland, WA U.S.A at (425)899-1740.