The County TB Program provides case management and clinical consultation for patients with active TB disease that reside in Santa Cruz County. A public health nurse is assigned to every confirmed case of active TB to promote full patient participation in treatment, exams, and isolation. Contact investigations are completed for all cases of pulmonary/laryngeal TB. The program also investigates patients with presumptive TB that medical providers and/or laboratories report.

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Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease that spreads from person to person through the air. It usually affects the lungs but can affect any other organ of the body. TB bacteria are expelled into the air when a person with TB disease of the lung/larynx coughs, sneezes, talks, or sings. Once in the air, people that share indoor airspace with the individual may eventually breathe in TB bacteria.

This is what TB infection looks like:

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There are two forms of tuberculosis: active TB disease and latent TB infection (LTBI).

Active TB Disease

Once a person has active TB of the lungs, they can spread it to others through the air. TB disease is curable, but the treatment is long and includes multiple medications.

Latent TB Infection (LTBI)

People with LTBI cannot spread TB to others since the bacteria are not active but are treatable. Once an individual completes treatment, it will help prevent the active form from developing in the future.

A person with LTBI does not have symptoms of active TB, such as cough, fever, unexplained fatigue, night sweats, and/or weight loss. It will not be indicated in a chest X-ray.

If LTBI is not treated, there is an approximate 5-10% lifetime risk of the infection progressing to active TB disease. The risk could increase if the individual’s immune system is compromised. Once a person has active TB of the lungs, they can spread it to others through the air.

Videos

English version created by TB Free California Initiative. Additional videos can be found on the CDPH Community Resources page.
Spanish and Tagalog versions created by San Diego County’s Tuberculosis Control and Refugee Health Program

Want to Learn More?

Latest report from the California Department of Public Health:

Tuberculosis Incidence Rate

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The California TB Elimination Plan

Click here to learn about the 2021 - 2025 California TB Elimination Plan

Local health departments have successfully curtailed TB transmission in California. Most new TB cases in California result from a longstanding latent TB infection (LTBI) that, in many people, progresses to active TB disease.

There are an estimated 2.4 million persons with LTBI in California. This reservoir of TB infection must be addressed to achieve a further reduction in TB disease. The specific focus of the plan is to ensure the identification and treatment of individuals with LTBI in California who are likely to progress to TB disease. This plan is designed to facilitate collaboration among public health TB programs, private partners and public partners toward the common goal of a TB-free California.

TB Reporting

Active TB Disease and Latent TB Infection: Diagnosis

Active TB Disease: Evaluation and Treatment

Latent TB Infection: Evaluation and Treatment

Identifying individuals with latent TB Infection (LTBI) is essential to the goal of TB elimination because treatment of LTBI can prevent infected individuals from developing TB disease and thereby stop the further spread of TB to others.

The CDC and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend testing people who are at increased risk for TB infection. During routine patient evaluations, health care providers should identify individuals who are at high risk for TB and test them for LTBI. TB testing activities should be done only when there is a plan for follow-up care to evaluate and treat all individuals diagnosed with LTBI.

TB Hospital Discharge

TB Clinical Consultation

  • Curry International Tuberculosis Center
  • California Department of Public Health, TB Control Branch
    • Contact via email
    • Telephone: (510) 620-3000

Santa Cruz County Tuberculosis Program Services

The County TB Program provides case management and clinical consultation for patients with active TB disease that reside in Santa Cruz County. A public health nurse is assigned to every confirmed case of active TB to promote full patient participation in treatment, exams, and isolation. Contact investigations are completed for all cases of pulmonary/laryngeal TB. The program also investigates patients with presumptive TB that medical providers, and or laboratories report.

We provide resources to medical providers for screening and treatment of Latent TB Infection (LTBI).