The Denver TB Course

Faculty Co-chairs:
Michael D. Iseman, MD and
Shannon H. Kasperbauer, MD

Purpose:

Since the introduction of effective chemotherapy, many changes have come about in the management of tuberculosis. Most important have been the shift from sanatoria based to general hospital and clinic based treatment and the knowledge that active disease can reliably be prevented among those who are latently infected. With the development of effective drugs for TB, with the significant advances in bacteriology, and with increased knowledge about the treatment of latent TB infection, the approach to tuberculosis control has become increasingly sophisticated.

The purpose of this course is to present this body of knowledge to general internists, public health workers, infectious diseases and chest specialists, registered nurses and other healthcare providers who will be responsible for the management and care of tuberculosis.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the epidemiological features which are associated with increased risk for tuberculosis.
• Explain the clinical manifestations of tuberculosis and how they differ in unique patient populations such in pediatrics or HIV co-infection.
• Recognize the tools available for diagnosis of tuberculosis, their differences, advantages and possible shortcomings.
• Formulate a treatment regimen for a patient with drug susceptible or drug resistant tuberculosis while understanding the pharmakokinetics and potential toxicities of that regimen.
• Discuss the importance and performance of contact investigation among persons exposed to new cases of communicable TB.

Course Organization:

Registration is from 8:00-8:30 a.m. Wednesday. The course runs Wednesday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and ends at noon on Saturday. All courses include lecture material, organized discussion sessions, and case presentations. Additional materials are furnished during the sessions. CME credit will be given on an hour-for-hour basis.

General Information:

All courses will be held at the Molly Blank Conference Center on the National Jewish Health campus located at 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, Colorado 80206.

Pre-registration is required. Early registration is advised because the courses are frequently fully subscribed.

Registration Fee includes admission to all sessions, breaks, lunch (Wed.-Fri.) and the conference handouts.  Cancellations must be received no later than 10 days before the start of the program to receive a refund minus $100 deposit.

If you or your organization do not have funds to cover your transportation and per diem expenditures, we suggest that you contact your local or state lung association for possible assistance.

If you wish to attend a future session, please indicate your interest on the registration form and return it to us. We will notify you when the dates are set.

Accreditation and Designation Statement:

National Jewish Health is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

National Jewish Health designates this educational activity for a maximum of 22 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM . Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing Continuing Education Accreditation Statement

National Jewish Health is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 12724. This program is approved for 25.0 Nursing Contact Hours.

Course Content:

CLINICAL TUBERCULOSIS

1. Transmission and pathogenesis of adult and pediatric tuberculosis including extrapulmonary lesions and disease with atypical mycobacteria.
2. Diagnosis and classification of tuberculosis.
3. Chemotherapy of tuberculosis including previously untreated cases, retreatment of durg resistant cases, and disease due to the atypical mycobacteria.
4. Management of toxicity and hypersensitivity reactions to all of the anti-tuberculosis drugs.
5. Measures for insuring uninterrupted drug ingestion by outpatients.

PUBLIC HEALTH

1. Screening for and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection.
2. Factors influencing infectiousness of tuberculosis.
3. Tuberculin testing and interferon release assays.
4. Case finding and contact investigation.
5. Immunization for TB.
6. Planning tuberculosis control programs with particular emphasis on organization of outpatient chemotherapy.

BACTERIOLOGY

1. Collection, transportation and processing of specimens: induced sputa, gastrics, bronchial brushing and washings and spontaneous sputa.
2. Techniques for staining and culture of organisms.
3. Techniques and interpretation of drug susceptibility testing.
4. Identification of various mycobacteria.
5. Mode of action of anti-TB drugs.
6. Serum drug level determinations.

Collaborators:

• Denver Health Department
• University of Colorado School of Medicine Denver Health Department
• University of Colorado School of Medicine Denver Health Department
• University of Colorado School of Medicine

Supported By:

• American College of Chest Physicians
• American Lung Association of Colorado
• American Thoracic Society
• United States Public Health Service

Click here for Denver area hotel and lodging information nearby the National Jewish Health campus.