Topic: TB Identification, Investigation, Iowa HHS TB Program Assistance

Shirlee Hasstedt
Shirlee Hasstedt, is an accomplished registered nurse with over forty-three years of experience. Since 2015, she has been the TB Nurse Consultant for the State of Iowa. Call 515-281-8636 and she will assist you with all your TB related questions.  

The most urgent questions often involve active tuberculosis cases who are quite ill. They could be about isolation requirements, obtaining proper specimens for diagnosis, and even concerns about if an exposed staff could take TB home to their family.  Do not be afraid to call and ask her a question. Most staff do not deal with TB often. Always know that Shirlee’s recommendations will reflect the most current TB guidelines.  



Allan Lynch
Allan Lynch has been the TB Program Manager since August of 2001. During this time, he has overseen the implementation of many changes to the Program that have significantly improved how we diagnose, treat and cure patients with both LTBI and TB disease in Iowa including, but not limited to:

  • Oversaw the original development of the TB Contacts Reporting system in IDSS, the main management tool for contact investigations by local public health agencies.
  • He is currently working on a major revision in IDSS TB Contacts to track and monitor window period prophylaxis for children < 5 years of age who are close contacts to infectious TB patients, a first of its kind tracking in the U.S. 
  • He wrote the Iowa Administrative rules for revising baseline TB screening and testing for health care workers and residents in licensed facilities in Iowa. Due to this, you only are tested for TB at the time of hire. If you are getting tested for TB on a serial basis, you may want to speak to him!
  • Updated TB Reporting requirements
  • Developed policies, procedures and law for ensuring infectious TB patients are properly isolated and released when criteria for non-infectiousness is met and the patient completes TX until cured. These policies and laws are consistent with clinical recommendations by the CDC/ATS (American Thoracic Society)/IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) published guidelines
  • Ensures the TB Program recommendations for diagnostic evaluation, treatment regimens and other control efforts remain consistent with published guidelines from the CDC/ATS and IDSA

Title
TB In Iowa: Statistics, Trends & Other Stuff

Brief Description
A broad overview of TB morbidity on a global, national and state and county level.

Objectives

  1. Understand the fundamental difference between LTBI and TB disease
  2. Know when to use the GeneXpert (PCR/NAAT) test
  3. Understand the criteria to release TB suspected patients from AIIR
  4. Profile patients by country of origin
  5. Demonstrate the proper method to collect sputum