Medical Management of Contacts to Infectious

Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Medical Management of Contacts to Infectious

Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Alfred Lardizabal, MD

New Jersey Medical School

Global Tuberculosis Institute

Continuing Education StatementContinuing Education Statement• The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New

Jersey –Center for Continuing and Outreach Education (UMDNJ-CCOE) designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

• UMDNJ-CCOE certifies that this continuing education offering meets the criteria for up to .15 Continuing Education Units, as defined by the National Task Force on the Continuing Education Unit (CEU), provided the activity is completed as designed. One CEU is awarded for 10 contact hours of instruction.

Faculty DisclosureFaculty Disclosure

• Alfred Lardizabal has expressed that his presentation does not include discussion of commercial products or services, or an unapproved or uninvestigated use of a commercial product. He has no significant financial relationships to disclose.

• Lillian Pirog has expressed that her presentation does not include discussion of commercial products or services, or an unapproved or uninvestigated use of a commercial product. She has no significant financial relationships to disclose.

Background (1)Background (1)

• 1962: Isoniazid (INH) demonstrated to be effective in preventing tuberculosis (TB) among household contacts of persons with TB disease

– Investigation and treatment of contacts with latent TB infection (LTBI) quickly becomes strategy in TB control and elimination in the U.S.

• 1976: American Thoracic Society (ATS) published guidelines for investigation, diagnostic evaluation, and medical treatment of TB contacts

Background (2)Background (2)

• 2005: National TB Controllers Association (NTCA) and CDC release guidelines on the investigation of contacts of persons with infectious TB

– Expanded guidelines on investigation of TB exposure and transmission, and prevention of future TB cases through contact investigations

– Standard framework for assembling information and using findings to inform decisions

Contact Investigations – A Crucial Prevention Strategy

Contact Investigations – A Crucial Prevention Strategy

• On average, 10 contacts are identified for each person with infectious TB in the U.S.

• 20%–30% of all contacts have LTBI

• 1% of contacts have TB disease

• Of contacts who will ultimately have TB disease, approximately one-half develop disease in the first year after exposure

Decisions to Initiate a Contact InvestigationDecisions to Initiate a Contact Investigation

• Public health officials must decide which– Contact investigations should be assigned a higher

priority– Contacts to evaluate first

• Decision to investigate an index patient depends on presence of factors used to predict likelihood of transmission

– Site of disease– Positive sputum bacteriology– Radiographic findings

Determining the Infectious PeriodDetermining the Infectious Period• Focuses investigation on contacts most likely

to be at risk for infection

• Sets time frame for testing contacts

• Information to assist with determining infectious period

– Approximate dates TB symptoms were noticed– Bacteriologic results– Extent of disease

Start of Infectious PeriodStart of Infectious Period

• Cannot be determined with precision; estimation is necessary

• Start is 3 months before TB diagnosis (recommended)

• Earlier start should be used in certain circumstances (e.g., patient aware of illness for longer period of time)

Closing the Infectious PeriodClosing the Infectious Period

• Effective treatment for ≥ 2 weeks,

• Diminished symptoms, and

• Bacteriologic response

Infectious period closed when all the following criteria are met

Assigning Priorities to ContactsAssigning Priorities to Contacts

Prioritization of Contacts (1)Prioritization of Contacts (1)Patient has pulmonary, laryngeal, or pleural TB with cavitary lesion on chest radiograph or is AFB sputum smear positive

Household contact High

Contact <5 years of age High

Contact with medical risk factor (HIV or other medical risk factor)

High

Contact with exposure during medical procedure (bronchoscopy, sputum induction, or autopsy)

High

Contact in a congregate setting High

Contact exceeds duration/environment limits (limits per unit time established by the health department for high-priority contacts)

High

Contact is ≥ 5 years and ≤ 15 years of age Medium

Contact exceeds duration/environment limits (limits per unit time established by the health department for medium-priority contacts)

Medium

Any contact not classified as high or medium priority is assigned a low priority.

Prioritization of Contacts (2)Prioritization of Contacts (2)Patient is a suspect or has confirmed pulmonary/pleural TB – AFB smear negative, abnormal chest radiograph consistent with TB disease, may be NAA and/or culture positive

Contact <5 years of age High

Contact with medical risk factor (e.g., HIV) High

Contact with exposure during medical procedure (bronchoscopy, sputum induction, or autopsy)

High

Household contact Medium

Contact exposed in congregate setting Medium

Contact exceeds duration/environment limits (limits per unit time established by the local TB control program)

Medium

Any contact not classified as high or medium priority is assigned a low priority.

Diagnostic Evaluation of ContactsDiagnostic Evaluation of Contacts

Information to Collect During Initial Assessment (1)

Information to Collect During Initial Assessment (1)

• Previous M. tuberculosis infection or disease and related treatment

• Contact’s verbal report and documentation of previous TST results

• Current symptoms of TB illness

Information to Collect During Initial Assessment (2)

Information to Collect During Initial Assessment (2)

• Medical conditions making TB disease more likely

• Mental health disorders

• Type, duration, and intensity of TB exposure

• Sociodemographic factors

Information to Collect During Initial Assessment (3)

Information to Collect During Initial Assessment (3)

• HIV status; contacts should be offered HIV counseling and testing if status unknown

• Information regarding social, emotional, and practical matters that might hinder participation

Reassess Strategy After Initial Information Collected

Reassess Strategy After Initial Information Collected

After initial information collected– Priority assignments should be reassessed– Medical plan for diagnostic tests and possible treatment

can be formulated for high- and medium-priority contacts

Tuberculin Skin TestingTuberculin Skin Testing

• All high or medium priority contacts who do not have a documented previous positive tuberculin skin test (TST) or previous TB disease should receive a TST at the initial encounter.

• If not possible, TST should be administered– ≤7 working days of listing high-priority contacts– ≤14 days of listing medium-priority contacts

Interpreting Skin Test ReactionInterpreting Skin Test Reaction

• ≥ 5 mm induration is positive for any contact

• Two-step procedure should not be used for testing contacts

• A contact whose second TST is positive after initial negative result should be classified as recently infected

Postexposure Tuberculin Skin Testing

Postexposure Tuberculin Skin Testing

• Window period is 8–10 weeks after exposure ends

• Contacts who have a positive result after a previous negative result are said to have had a change in tuberculin status from negative to positive

Evaluation and Follow-up of Children <5 Years of Age

Evaluation and Follow-up of Children <5 Years of Age

• Always assigned a high priority as contacts

• Should receive full diagnostic medical evaluation, including a chest radiograph

• If TST ≤5 mm of induration and last exposure <8 weeks, LTBI treatment recommended (after TB disease excluded)

• Second TST 8–10 weeks after exposure; decision to treat is reconsidered

– Negative TST – treatment discontinued– Positive TST – treatment continued

Evaluation and Follow-up of Immunosuppressed ContactsEvaluation and Follow-up of

Immunosuppressed Contacts

• Should receive full diagnostic medical evaluation, including a chest radiograph

• If TST negative ≥ 8 weeks after end of exposure, full course of treatment for LTBI recommended (after TB disease is excluded)

Window-Period ProphylaxisWindow-Period Prophylaxis

• The frequency, duration, and intensity of exposure

• Corroborative evidence of transmission from the index patient

Decision to treat contacts with a negative skin test result should take the following factors into consideration

Prophylactic TreatmentProphylactic Treatment

• With HIV infection

• Taking immunosuppressive therapy for organ transplant

• Taking anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) agents

Prophylactic treatment (after TB disease is excluded) of presumed M. tuberculosis infection recommended for persons

Treatment After Exposure to Drug-Resistant TB

Treatment After Exposure to Drug-Resistant TB

• Consultation with physician with MDR expertise recommended for selecting a LTBI regimen

• Contacts should be monitored for 2 years after exposure

Selecting Contacts for Directly Observed Therapy

Selecting Contacts for Directly Observed Therapy

• Contacts aged <5 years

• Contacts who are HIV infected or otherwise substantially immunocompromised

• Contacts with a change in their tuberculin skin test status from negative to positive

• Contacts who might not complete treatment because of social or behavior impediments

Source-Case InvestigationsSource-Case Investigations

Source-Case InvestigationsSource-Case Investigations

• Seeks the source of recent M.tuberculosis infection

• In the absence of cavitary disease, young children usually do not transmit M.tuberculosis to others

• Recommended only when TB control program is achieving its objectives when investigating infectious cases

Child with LTBIChild with LTBI

• Search for source of infection for child is unlikely to be productive

• Recommended only with infected children <2 years of age, and only if data are monitored to determine the value of the investigation

Procedures for Source-Case Investigation

Procedures for Source-Case Investigation

• Same procedure as standard contact investigation

• Patient or guardians best informants (associates)

• Focus on associates who have symptoms of TB disease

• Should begin with closest associates

Contact InvestigationsContact Investigations

Background – 1Background – 1

• 6/14/04 39 year-old female admitted to the hospital with complaints for approximately one month of cough, fever, decreased appetite, night sweats and 23 lb weight loss

• 6/17 Chest x-ray cavitary disease consistent with TB

• 6/17 Bronchial wash AFB smear positive (3+)

Background - 2Background - 2

• 6/19 Treatment (RIPE) initiated

• 6/21 Suspected case of tuberculosis verbally reported by hospital infection control to the local health department

Background – 3 Background – 3

• 6/21 LHD informed TB Control of suspected case adding the following information

– Presenting patient was a volunteer at a daycare center– Director of center is the sister of patient– Name, address and telephone of daycare center

provided

Background – 4Background – 4

• 6/21 Telephone call to director of daycare center from TB controller

– Purpose to set up a meeting to discuss potential exposure to children and staff

• Conduct on-site exposure assessment of center

• Provide TB education to the director

• Identify high-priority contacts during infectious period established at 2/14–6/14/04

Background - 5Background - 5

• During telephone conversation, the following was indicated by the director:

– Index patient was a part-time volunteer a “couple of hours” (2-5) per week– Secretary with little or no exposure to children

Background - 6Background - 6

• Near the conclusion of telephone call the following exchange occurred

– Director: So, should my daughter be tested?– TB Control: Tell me about your daughter and how much

exposure she had to your sister– Director: Not too much. She doesn’t attend the daycare

but we do spend some time socially (maybe 5 hours) together on the weekends going to the mall

Background - 7Background - 7

– TB Control: How old is your daughter?– Director: 6 months– TB Control: I’ll make arrangements for your daughter to

be tested tomorrow morning– TB Control: By the way, how is your daughter feeling?– Director: Well, she was diagnosed with bronchitis a few

weeks ago and is still coughing

• Final culture result MTB

Contact InvestigationContact Investigation

• 6/22: First of 4 TB interviews with the patient conducted by HCW in hospital revealed

– Infectious period confirmed at 2/14-6/14/04– Patient may have spent more time in daycare than originally

described – Patient indicates not much contact with children at daycare– 8 high priority contacts identified

• 2 household

• 6 social

• 6/23 Initiation of on-site assessment of daycare center

Contact InvestigationContact Investigation

• As a result of on-site assessment 35 high priority contacts identified

– 30 children ages 3-4 years – 5 staff members

• Notification process begins for testing

• Education sessions provided to parents of daycare children

• During these sessions it is learned that the 6 month old infant, director’s daughter, was at daycare center on regular basis

Contact InvestigationContact Investigation

• 6/23 6 month old infant (director’s daughter) evaluated at clinic

– TST 15 mm– CXR hilar adenopathy with suspected miliary TB– Admitted to hospital with diagnosis of suspected miliary

TB

Contact InvestigationContact Investigation

• 6/25 Field visit to social contact residence by HCW identifies a second 6 mo. old infant not named on initial interview

– 70 hours exposure per week during infectious period– Diagnosed with pneumonia 3 weeks ago

• HCW & TB Controller consult with pediatric nurse practitioner at Lattimore and infant is referred to ED and is admitted with a diagnosis of suspected pulmonary TB

Medical EvaluationMedical Evaluation

• 6/29 - 6/30 Tuberculin skin tests administered on all 35 daycare contacts and chest x-rays taken on all 30 children from daycare

• Extra clinic sessions scheduled in addition to 3 evening clinics at local health department where most contacts reside to accommodate the medical evaluations of the 30 children

Contact Investigation Initial Infection & Disease Results: Household and Social Contacts

Contact Investigation Initial Infection & Disease Results: Household and Social Contacts

• Total 9 high priority contacts identified– 4 children/5 adults TST (+) 5/9 (56%)

• TB disease 2/9 (22%)

– 2 infants

TST (-) 4/9 (44%)

Contact Investigation Infection & Disease Results: DaycareContact Investigation Infection & Disease Results: Daycare

Children 30 (3-4 years of age)

TST (+)TST (+) w/ disease

11/30 (37%) 5/11 (45%)

TST (-)TST (-) w/ disease

19/30 (63%) 2/19 (11%)

Staff 5

TST (+)TST (-)

3/5 (60%) - 2 adolescents2/5 (40%)No disease

Contact Investigation Results: Totals After Initial Testing

Contact Investigation Results: Totals After Initial Testing

Investigation Totals 44 32 ≤ 4 yrs old

TST (+) 19/44 (43%)

TST (-) 25/44 (57%)

TB disease 9/44 (20%) All ≤ 4 yrs old

Prevention of Tuberculosis in Children: Missed Opportunities

Prevention of Tuberculosis in Children: Missed Opportunities

• Failure to find and appropriately manage adult source cases (Case finding)

• Delay in reporting the initial diagnosis of TB

• Contact investigation interview failure

• Delay in evaluation of exposed children

• Failure to completely evaluate exposed children

• Failure to maintain a contact under surveillance

• LTBI diagnosed; treatment not prescribed

• Failure to complete treatment for LTBI (Adherence)

Contact Investigations: Lessons LearnedContact Investigations: Lessons Learned

• Importance of on-site assessment

• Re-interviews of presenting patients strongly recommended to allow a complete and accurate assessment of exposure

– Different interviewers if no contacts, rapport issue

• Despite the rapidity of the CI process 9 cases of disease occurred– Children develop disease soon after infection so it is imperative to move

quickly

• Local pediatricians are generally not familiar with the evaluation recommended for and the prophylactic treatment of children exposed to tuberculosis

Medical Management of TB Medical Management of TB Contacts from a Nursing Contacts from a Nursing

PerspectivePerspective

Medical Management of TB Medical Management of TB Contacts from a Nursing Contacts from a Nursing

PerspectivePerspective

Lillian Pirog, RN, PNPLillian Pirog, RN, PNP

Nurse Manager-Lattimore PracticeNurse Manager-Lattimore Practice

NJMS Global Tuberculosis InstituteNJMS Global Tuberculosis Institute

The Role of the Nurse Case Manager with Respect to TB Contacts

The Role of the Nurse Case Manager with Respect to TB Contacts

• Interview the index case for contacts

• Administer and read the TST

• Educate the contacts

• Monitor contacts at monthly interval

• Ensure treatment adherence

Note: Not all duties discussed today will apply to all nurses, and some duties performed by TB nurse case managers may not be discussed

Interviewing the Index CaseInterviewing the Index Case

• Interviewing the index case for contacts should be done on more than one occasion

– On the initial visit– On subsequent visits until you are satisfied all the

contacts have been identified– A visit to the site of exposure will help provide important

information regarding possible transmission and contacts

Past Medical HistoryPast Medical History• Obtain contact’s past medical history

– Ask the contact

• Have you ever been diagnosed with tuberculosis?

• Have you ever had a TB skin test?

– If yes why, when, where, and what was the result

• Ask about medical conditions that may elevate the contact’s status to high risk

• Ask about behaviors that may elevate the contact’s status to high risk

• Ask about TB symptoms

• Ask about previous HIV testing

Contact EducationContact Education

• Explain the following:– Transmission and Pathogenesis– TST (how it is performed)– TST results and what they mean– Retesting (if necessary)

Always give the contact an opportunity to ask questionsAnd ask them to tell you in their own words what they’velearned

Contact Education cont.Contact Education cont.

• The evaluation process– TST

• If you are tested you must be available for the reading in 48-72 hours

• X-ray– Medical examination– Treatment if necessary

• Importance of adherence with treatment– Provide literature

TSTTST

• Administer the TST– Explain the procedure– Explain that PPD is not a live bacteria. It can not give

you TB– Explain how to care for the site

• Do not place a bandage on the site

• Do not scratch

– Pat it with cold cloth

– Can rub it with ice

• It’s okay to bathe and wash the site

TST cont.TST cont.

• Results– Explain a positive result

• It only tell us that the germ is in your body nothing more. Further medical evaluation is needed

– Explain a negative result– Explain the need for retesting (if necessary)– Explain window prophylaxis (if necessary)

Monthly Follow up VisitsMonthly Follow up Visits

• First visit– Review test results

• Blood

• Sputum– Explain how medications are taken– Explain possible adverse reactions to medication– Provide clinic telephone number and an emergency

telephone numbers for after clinic hours and weekends.

Monthly Follow up Visits Monthly Follow up Visits

• First visit cont.– Reiterate the importance of medication adherence and

follow up appointments– Offer HIV test (if HIV status is unknown)

• HIV testing should be offered to all contacts

Subsequent Follow up VisitsSubsequent Follow up Visits

• Ask about medication side effects

• Observe for possible adverse reactions

• Reiterate importance of compliance with treatment and follow up visits

• Review medication regimen

• Give follow up appointment (in a month)

High Risk ContactsHigh Risk Contacts

• HIV +

• Children <5 years old

• Those with Other medical conditions

Window PeriodWindow Period

• The window period is the eight to ten week period after last exposure

Window Prophylaxis

• Treatment doing the window period has been recommended for susceptible and vulnerable contacts to prevent rapidly emerging of TB disease

Signs of Adherence ProblemsSigns of Adherence Problems

• Missed follow up appointments

• Not picking up medication refill from pharmacy

• Finding too many pills when conducting a pill count

• Unaddressed adverse reactions

Addressing Adherence ProblemsAddressing Adherence Problems

• Identify adherence problems and try to resolve them

• Reeducate

• Free medication (Gratis Medication Program)

• DOT for contacts (If funding permits)

Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Smile

Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Smile

• Build a rapport

• Show you care

Any Questions?