Transcript tb_screening - Healthwatch Newham

Newham CCG
Latent Tuberculosis Screening and
Treatment Programme
28th March 2014
Dr Margaret Chirgwin – Programme Director
Primary Care Strategy
What is Latent TB?
• Latent TB is when a person has TB bacteria
in their body without causing any symptoms.
These bacteria can survive in the body for
many years. Sometimes latent TB bacteria
can ‘wake-up’. If this happens to someone,
they will become ill with active TB
• At least one in ten people who have latent TB
infection (LTBI) will become ill at some point
during their lifetime – the majority in the first
10 years of coming to the UK
What is Newham CCG doing about TB in
Newham?
The present service is focussed on those
with active TB
– GP suspects a person has TB and sends
them to Newham General to see the team
there
– Outreach service provided by ELFT supports
people to register with a GP and if at high risk
of TB will offer them screening and then
referral to the hospital
– All babies born in Newham has BCG
What is Newham CCG going to do about
TB in Newham?
The new service – in addition to the present
service
1. All new patients registering with a GP in
Newham who are aged 16-50 and at high
risk of having LTBI will be offered a blood
test (IGRA)
2. There will be a rolling programme across all
practices to look at those already registered
and send them a letter inviting them to have
the same blood test
Who is High Risk? Come to UK in last 10 years from:
What happens if a person has a positive
blood test?
• They will meet with their GP and discuss if
they wish to be treated or prefer to be
vigilant – wait and see if their LTBI wakes
up
• If they decide they would like to be treated
they will need to have some further blood
tests and a chest X-ray before starting the
3 month treatment