LA County Department of Public Health - Tuberculosis Control Program

Summary of Important Tuberculosis Treatment Guidelines

Reporting

All health care providers are mandated to report within one working day of diagnosis all patients with suspected or confirmed tuberculosis (California Health and Safety Code section 121362 and California Code of Regulations Section 2500). The CMR Reporting Form - for Non-Hospitalized Patients is to be used.
All tuberculosis suspects and cases who are hospitalized must be reported within one working day using the H-803 form (Confidential Hospitalized TB Suspect/Case Report Form). Reports are required for all admissions including multiple admissions for the same patient.
Prior to discharge, all tuberculosis suspects and cases in hospitals must have an individualized, written discharge plan approved by Tuberculosis Control Program (California Health and Safety Code ection 121361). The H-804 form (Confidential Hospitalized TB Suspect/Discharge Care Plan/Approval Request) must be submitted and approved by the TB Control Program prior to discharge.
The County of Los Angeles, Department of Health Service is mandated to maintain a record of clinical follow-up of all tuberculosis patients (California Health and Safety Code section 121362).

Contact investigation is an epidemiological investigation which must be done for every new reported index case of TB (suspected or confirmed) and is an essential component of tuberculosis containment.
Contact investigation identifies, examines and evaluates all persons who are at risk of infection with tuberculosis due to recent exposure to a diagnosed or suspected index case.
Pediatric TB cases require investigation to determine the source case.
Contact investigation allows for early treatment of disease, and early detection and treatment of a new infection.