Tuberculosis

National organisations (for example, National Knowledge Service: Tuberculosis, TB Alert, Public Health England, Department of Health and NHS Choices) should work together to develop generic, quality‑assured template materials with consistent up‑to‑date messages. These materials should be made freely available and designed so that they can be adapted to local needs. [new 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should use these templates for general awareness raising and targeted activities in under‑served and other high‑risk groups. Involve the target group in developing and piloting the materials. [new 2016]

The content of any materials should:

• be up‑to‑date and attractively designed, including pictures and colour if possible

• be culturally appropriate, taking into account the language, actions, customs, beliefs and values of the group they are aimed at

• be tailored to the target population's needs

• include risks and benefits of treatment, and how to access services, advice and support

• dispel myths

• show that, by deciding to be tested and treated for TB, a person can be empowered to take responsibility for their own health

• use language that encourages the person to believe that they can change their behaviour

• be simple and succinct. [new 2016]

Make the material available in a range of formats such as written, braille, text messages, electronic, audio (including podcasts), pictorial and video. Make them freely available in a variety of ways, for example, online, as print materials or on memory sticks. [new 2016]

Disseminate materials in ways likely to reach target groups, for example, via culturally specific radio or TV stations, at shelters, and at community, commercial or religious venues that target groups attend regularly. [new 2016]

To improve the uptake of BCG vaccination, identify eligible groups (in line with the Department of Health's Green Book) opportunistically through several routes, for example:

• new registrations in primary care and with antenatal services, or other points of contact with secondary or tertiary care

• people entering education, including university

• links with statutory and voluntary groups working with new entrants and looked‑after children and young people

• during contact investigations. [new 2016]

When BCG vaccination is being recommended, discuss the benefits and risks of vaccination or remaining unvaccinated with the person (or, if a child, with the parents), so that they can make an informed decision. Tailor this discussion to the person, use appropriate language, and take into account cultural sensitivities and stigma. [2006]

If people identified for BCG vaccination through occupational health, contact tracing or new entrant screening are also considered to be at increased risk of being HIV‑positive, offer them HIV testing before BCG vaccination. [2006]

Offer Mantoux testing to diagnose latent TB in adults aged 18 to 65 who are close contacts of a person with pulmonary or laryngeal TB.

• If the Mantoux test is inconclusive, refer the person to a TB specialist.

• If the Mantoux test is positive (an induration of 5 mm or larger, regardless of BCG history) assess for active TB (see the sections on diagnosing active TB in all age groups, diagnosing pulmonary (including laryngeal) TB in all age groups, diagnosing pulmonary (including laryngeal) TB in adults and diagnosing extrapulmonary TB in all age groups).

• If the Mantoux test is positive but a diagnosis of active TB is excluded, consider an interferon gamma release assay if more evidence of infection is needed to decide on treatment. This could be, for example, if the person needs enhanced case management or if there could be adverse events from treatment.

• If the Mantoux is positive, and if an IGRA was done and that is also positive, offer them treatment for latent TB infection (see the sections on managing latent TB in all age groups and managing latent TB in adults).
  
  At the time of publication (January 2016) the BNF states: 'The Mantoux test is recommended for tuberculin skin testing, but no licensed preparation is currently available.' For further guidance, see immunisation against infectious disease (the Green book).[2011, amended 2016]

Only consider using interferon‑gamma release assays alone in children and young people if Mantoux testing is not available or is impractical. This includes for example, situations in which large numbers need to be tested (see the section on incident and outbreak response and recommendation 1.2.3.2). [new 2016]

Refer children younger than 2 years and in close contact with people with smear‑negative pulmonary or laryngeal TB to a specialist to determine what testing strategy for latent TB should be done. This should be a paediatrician with experience and training in TB, or a general paediatrician with advice from a specialised clinician. [new 2016]

If a neonate has been in close contact with people with smear‑positive pulmonary or laryngeal TB who have not had at least 2 weeks of anti‑TB treatment:

• Assess for active TB (see the sections on diagnosing active TB in all age groups, diagnosing pulmonary (including laryngeal) TB in all age groups and diagnosing pulmonary (including laryngeal) TB in children and young people).

• Start isoniazid (with pyridoxine).

• Carry out a Mantoux test after 6 weeks of treatment.

• If the Mantoux test is inconclusive, refer the child to a TB specialist.

• If the Mantoux test is positive (5 mm or larger, regardless of BCG history), reassess for active TB; if this assessment is negative, continue isoniazid (with pyridoxine) for a total of 6 months.

• If the Mantoux test is negative, reassess for active TB and consider an interferon‑gamma release assay:

  • if the interferon‑gamma release assay is negative then stop isoniazid (and pyridoxine) and give a BCG vaccination

  • if the interferon‑gamma release assay is positive, reassess for active TB; if this assessment for active TB is negative, continue isoniazid (with pyridoxine) for a total of 6 months. [new 2016]

If a child aged between 4 weeks and 2 years has been in close contact with people with smear‑positive pulmonary or laryngeal TB who have not had at least 2 weeks of anti‑TB treatment:

• Assess for active TB.

• Start treatment for latent TB (see the sections on managing latent TB in all age groups and managing latent TB in children and young people) and carry out a Mantoux test.

• If the Mantoux test is inconclusive, refer the child to a TB specialist.

• If the Mantoux test is positive (5 mm or larger, regardless of BCG history), reassess for active TB; if this assessment is negative, complete treatment for latent TB.

• If the Mantoux test is negative, continue treatment for latent TB, reassess for active TB after 6 weeks and repeat the Mantoux test:

  • if the Mantoux test is negative, consider an interferon‑gamma release assay

  • if the interferon‑gamma release assay is negative, treatment for latent TB may be stopped; give a BCG vaccination if the child has not already had one

  • if either test is positive, reassess for active TB; if this assessment is negative, complete treatment for latent TB. [new 2016]

If a child or young person aged between 2 and 17 years has been in close contact with people with pulmonary or laryngeal TB:

• Offer Mantoux testing.

• If the Mantoux test is inconclusive, refer the child or young person to a TB specialist.

• If the Mantoux test is positive (5 mm or larger, regardless of BCG history), assess for active TB; if this assessment is negative, offer them treatment for latent TB infection.

• If the initial Mantoux test is negative, offer an interferon‑gamma release assay after 6 weeks and repeat the Mantoux test. [new 2016]

Be aware that certain groups of people with latent TB are at increased risk of going on to develop active TB, including people who:

• are HIV‑positive

• are younger than 5 years

• have excessive alcohol intake

• are injecting drug users

• have had solid organ transplantation

• have a haematological malignancy

• are having chemotherapy

• have had a jejunoileal bypass

• have diabetes

• have chronic kidney disease or receive haemodialysis

• have had a gastrectomy

• are having treatment with anti‑tumour necrosis factor‑alpha or other biologic agents

• have silicosis. [new 2016]

For people, including those with HIV, aged younger than 65 years with evidence of latent TB who have been in close contact with people who have suspected infectious or confirmed active pulmonary or laryngeal drug‑sensitive TB, offer either of the following drug treatments:

• 3 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine) and rifampicin or

• 6 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine). [new 2016]

Base the choice of regimen on the person's clinical circumstances. Offer:

• 3 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine) and rifampicin to people younger than 35 years if hepatotoxicity is a concern after an assessment of both liver function (including transaminase levels) and risk factors

• 6 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine) if interactions with rifamycins are a concern, for example, in people with HIV or who have had a transplant. [new 2016]

Clearly explain the risks and potential benefits of each treatment regimen. In discussion with the person, select a suitable regimen if they wish to proceed with preventive treatment. [new 2016]

If a person also has severe liver disease, for example, Child‑Pugh level B or C, work with a specialist multidisciplinary team with experience of managing TB and liver disease. [new 2016]

Manage treatment with caution, ensuring careful monitoring of liver function, in:

• people with non‑severe liver disease

• people with abnormal liver function (including abnormal transaminase levels) before starting treatment for latent TB infection

• people who misuse alcohol or drugs. [new 2016]

Ensure people having treatment for latent TB who also have social risk factors, such as misusing alcohol or drugs or being homeless, are linked to support services. They should also have an assessment of social needs and stability, including potential barriers to adherence or treatment completion (see the section on adherence, treatment completion and follow‑up). [new 2016]

People in the groups listed in recommendation 1.2.4.1 who do not have treatment for latent TB, as specified in recommendations 1.2.4.2 to 1.2.4.8, for any reason should be advised of the risks and symptoms of TB (on the basis of an individual risk assessment), usually in a standard letter of the type referred to as 'Inform and advise' information (see section 1.1.2). [new 2016]

For adults between the ages of 35 and 65 years, offer drug treatments only if hepatotoxicity is not a concern. [new 2016]

Offer testing for HIV before starting treatment for latent TB. See the NICE guidelines on increasing the uptake of HIV testing among black Africans in England and increasing the uptake of HIV testing among men who have sex with men. [new 2016]

Offer adults testing for hepatitis B and C before starting treatment for latent TB. See the NICE guidelines on hepatitis B and C: ways to promote and offer testing to people at increased risk of infection and hepatitis B (chronic): diagnosis and management of chronic hepatitis B in children, young people and adults. [new 2016]

Consider testing children and young people for hepatitis B and C before starting treatment for latent TB. See the NICE guidelines on hepatitis B and C: ways to promote and offer testing to people at increased risk of infection and hepatitis B (chronic): diagnosis and management of chronic hepatitis B in children, young people and adults. [new 2016]

If TB is a possibility, microbiology staff should consider carrying out TB culture on samples (see recommendations 1.3.2.2 and 1.3.2.3), even if it is not requested. [2006, amended 2016]

If there are clinical signs and symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of TB, start treatment without waiting for culture results. [2006]

Consider completing the standard recommended regimen (see recommendations 1.3.7.2 and 1.3.7.3 in the section on standard treatment), even if subsequent culture results are negative. [2006, amended 2016]

Take a chest X‑ray; do further diagnostic investigations (as detailed below and summarised in table 1) if chest X‑ray appearances suggest TB. [2016]

Send multiple respiratory samples (3 deep cough sputum samples, preferably including 1 early morning sample) for TB microscopy and culture. [2016]

• This should be before starting treatment if possible or, failing that, within 7 days of starting treatment in people with life‑threatening disease. [2006, amended 2016]

• Obtain spontaneously‑produced, deep cough sputum samples if possible, otherwise use:

  • 3 gastric lavages or 3 inductions of sputum in children and young people (see recommendation 1.5.1.10 in the section on infection control in healthcare settings) [new 2016] or

  • induction of sputum or bronchoscopy and lavage in adults. [2006, amended 2016]

• Laboratory practices should be in accordance with the UK's Standards for Microbiology Investigations. [new 2016]

Send samples for TB culture from autopsy samples if pulmonary or laryngeal TB is a possibility. [2006, amended 2016]

Request rapid diagnostic nucleic acid amplification tests for the M. tuberculosis complex (M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum) on primary specimens (listed in table 1) if there is clinical suspicion of TB disease, and:

• the person has HIV or

• rapid information about mycobacterial species would alter the person's care or

• the need for a large contact‑tracing initiative is being explored. [new 2016]

In children aged 15 years or younger with suspected pulmonary TB, offer rapid diagnostic nucleic acid amplification tests for the M. tuberculosis complex (M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum). Usually only 1 nucleic acid amplification test is needed per specimen type (for example, spontaneous sputum, induced sputum or gastric lavage; see table 1). [new 2016]

In young people aged 16 to 18 years use the same criteria as in adults to decide whether to request rapid diagnostic nucleic acid amplification tests (see table 1). [new 2016]

Either a paediatrician with experience and training in TB or a general paediatrician with advice from a specialised clinician should investigate and manage TB in children and young people. [new 2016]

An expert in paediatric TB may request interferon‑gamma release assays and tuberculin skin tests. Interpret these together with other diagnostic tools (such as history taking, clinical examination and imaging). [new 2016]

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both biopsy and needle aspiration with the patient, with the aim of obtaining adequate material for diagnosis. [2006]

Do not place part or all of any of the samples in formalin (or other fixative agent) when sending for TB culture. [2006, amended 2016]

Think about a diagnosis of extrapulmonary TB even if rapid diagnostic tests in, for example, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid or ascitic fluid are negative. [new 2016]

Offer all patients presenting with extrapulmonary TB a chest X‑ray and, if possible, culture of a spontaneously‑produced respiratory sample to exclude or confirm coexisting pulmonary TB (see recommendations 1.3.1 to 1.3.3 in the section on active TB). Also, consider site‑specific tests as described below to exclude or confirm additional sites of TB. [new 2016]

Refer to an expert for sites not listed here, including TB of the eye and other rare sites of disease. [new 2016]

Local hospitals, clinical commissioning groups and the local multidisciplinary team should consider developing a local pathway for people with imaging highly suggestive of active TB. The pathway should enable them to be referred by the radiology department by the next working day to multidisciplinary TB teams. Consider including the following in the pathway:

• Agreed standardised radiology codes to identify imaging investigations highly suggestive of active TB.

• Regular liaison between multidisciplinary TB teams and the radiology department (for example, weekly) to ensure all patients have been referred to the multidisciplinary team for triage using the agreed local mechanism or pathway. [new 2016]

Report results of all pathology or other diagnostic results suggesting TB to the multidisciplinary TB team and clinicians who ask for them. [new 2016]

For people with clinically suspected TB, a TB specialist should request rapid diagnostic nucleic acid amplification tests for rifampicin resistance on primary specimens if a risk assessment for multidrug resistance identifies any of the following risk factors:

• history of previous TB drug treatment, particularly if there was known to be poor adherence to that treatment

• contact with a known case of multidrug-resistant TB

• birth or residence in a country in which the World Health Organization reports that a high proportion (5% or more) of new TB cases are multidrug‑resistant.
  
  Start infection control measures (see section 1.5). [new 2016]

If the rapid diagnostic nucleic acid amplification test for rifampicin resistance is positive:

• continue infection control measures until pulmonary or laryngeal disease has been excluded

• manage treatment along with a multidisciplinary team with experience of managing multidrug‑resistant TB (see the section on service organisation)

• offer a treatment regimen involving at least 6 drugs to which the mycobacterium is likely to be sensitive

• test for resistance to second‑line drugs. [new 2016]

If the rapid diagnostic nucleic acid amplification test for the M. tuberculosis complex is positive but rifampicin resistance is not detected, treat as drug‑susceptible TB with the standard regimen (see the section on managing active TB in all age groups). [new 2016]

If the rapid diagnostic nucleic acid amplification test for the M. tuberculosis complex is negative in a person at high risk of multidrug‑resistant TB:

• obtain further specimens for nucleic acid amplification testing and culture, if possible

• use rapid rifampicin resistance detection on cultures that become positive for the M. tuberculosis complex

• consider waiting for the results of further tests before starting treatment if the person is well

• if urgent treatment is needed, consider managing as multidrug‑resistant TB until sensitivity results are available. [new 2016]

When definitive phenotypic susceptibility results are available, modify treatment as needed (see sections on managing active TB in all age groups and drug‑resistant TB). [new 2016]

Consider more intensive clinical follow‑up for people with multidrug‑resistant TB. This includes people having directly observed therapy (see the section on adherence, treatment completion and follow‑up) throughout treatment because of the complexity of treatment and risk of adverse events. [new 2016]

Discuss the options for organising care for people with multidrug‑resistant TB with clinicians who specialise in this. Seek the person's views and take them into account, and consider shared care (see the section on service organisation). [2006]

Consider surgery as a therapeutic intervention in people with potentially resectable multidrug‑resistant disease if:

• optimal medical therapy under direct observation has not worked or

• medical therapy is likely to fail because of extensively drug-resistant TB. [new 2016]

For people with TB, without central nervous system involvement, that is resistant to just 1 drug consider the treatments in table 13.

For people with drug‑resistant TB and central nervous system involvement, involve a TB specialist with experience in managing drug‑resistant TB in decisions about the most appropriate regimen and the duration of treatment. [new 2016]

Ensure healthcare settings can promptly identify people with suspected infectious or confirmed pulmonary or laryngeal TB before or at presentation. Ensure people working in the settings follow the recommendations about testing and treatments (see the sections on latent TB, active TB and drug resistant TB). [new 2016]

Put people with suspected infectious or confirmed pulmonary or laryngeal TB who will remain in a hospital setting (including emergency, outpatients or inpatient care) in a single room. If this is not possible, keep the person's waiting times to a minimum. This may involve prioritising their care above that of other patients. [new 2016]

Minimise the number and duration of visits a person with TB makes to an outpatient department while they are still infectious. To minimise the risk of infection, people with infectious TB should be seen at times or in places away from other people. [new 2016]

In hospital settings, risk assess people with suspected infectious or confirmed pulmonary TB for multidrug‑resistant TB (see the section on multidrug‑resistant TB). Care for people deemed to be at low risk in a single room, as a minimum. For people deemed to be at high risk:

• provide care in a negative pressure room and

• have specimens sent for rapid diagnostic tests, such as nucleic acid amplification tests. [new 2016]

Unless there is a clear clinical or public health need, such as homelessness, people with suspected infectious or confirmed pulmonary TB should not be admitted to hospital for diagnostic tests or for care. [2006, amended 2016]

Do not admit people with suspected infectious or confirmed pulmonary TB to a ward containing people who are immunocompromised, such as transplant recipients, people with HIV and those on anti‑tumour necrosis factor alpha or other biologics, unless they can be cared for in a negative pressure room on the same ward. [new 2016]

Assess any visitors to a child with suspected active TB in hospital for symptoms of infectious TB, and keep them separate from other people until they have been excluded as a source of infection (see recommendations 1.2.1 to 1.2.3 in the section on latent TB and the section on contact tracing). [new 2016]

Care for people with a continuing clinical or public health need for admission with pulmonary TB in a single room (as a minimum) until they have completed 2 weeks of the standard treatment regimen (see the section on managing active TB in all age groups) if they:

• are unlikely to be rifampicin resistant (that is, do not have risk factors for multidrug‑resistant TB) or

• have negative rifampicin resistance on nucleic acid amplification test or culture. [new 2016]

Consider de‑escalating isolation after 2 weeks of treatment, taking into account the risks and benefits, if:

• the person is showing tolerance to the prescribed treatment

• there is agreement to adhere to treatment

• there is resolution of cough

• there is definite clinical improvement on treatment; for example, remaining afebrile for a week

• there are not immunocompromised people, such as transplant recipients, people with HIV and those on anti‑tumour necrosis factor alpha or other biologics, in the same accommodation

• the person's initial smear grade was not high; for example, 2 or less

• there is not extensive pulmonary involvement, including cavitation

• there is no laryngeal TB. [new 2016]

In people who may have TB, only carry out aerosol‑generating procedures such as bronchoscopy, sputum induction or nebuliser treatment in an appropriately engineered and ventilated area (ideally a negative pressure room). [new 2016]

Consider discharging from hospital people:

• who do not have a continuing clinical or public health need for admission with pulmonary TB and

• who are unlikely to be rifampicin resistant (that is, do not have risk factors for multidrug‑resistant TB) or

• who have negative rifampicin resistance on nucleic acid amplification test or culture.
  
  If discharged, the person should avoid congregate settings for the first 2 weeks of their treatment. [new 2016]

Explain to inpatients with suspected infectious or confirmed pulmonary or laryngeal TB that they will need to wear a surgical mask in the hospital whenever they leave their room. Ask them to continue wearing it until they have had at least 2 weeks of treatment. [2016]

Offer people advice on simple respiratory hygiene measures. [new 2016]

In non‑healthcare settings catering for large numbers of people and populations at high risk of TB (such as detention settings, residential hostels and day centres):

• promote simple respiratory hygiene

• ensure awareness of symptoms of potentially infectious TB to enable prompt healthcare referral

• work with the local public health team and the local authority to ensure accommodation for people with TB

• ensure adequate ventilation. [new 2016]

In prisons or immigration removal centres, everyone with X‑ray changes indicative of active TB, as well as those with symptoms who are awaiting X‑ray, should be isolated in an adequately ventilated individual room or cell. Prisoners and detainees should be retained on medical hold until they have:

• proven smear‑negative and had an X‑ray that does not suggest active TB or

• had a negative risk assessment for multidrug‑resistant TB and completed 2 weeks of the standard treatment regimen. [2012, amended 2016]

If people with suspected or known infectious multidrug‑resistant TB are admitted to hospital, admit them to a negative pressure room. If none is available locally, transfer them to a hospital that has these facilities and a clinician experienced in managing complex drug‑resistant cases. Carry out care in a negative pressure room for people with:

• suspected multidrug‑resistant TB, until non‑resistance is confirmed

• confirmed multidrug‑resistant TB, until they have 3 negative smears at weekly intervals and ideally have a negative culture. [new 2016]

As soon as possible, explore options to reduce the psychosocial impact of prolonged isolation. For example, through providing free access to internet, telephone and television, and accompanied walks in the open air. [new 2016]

Consider earlier discharge for people with confirmed multidrug‑resistant TB, if there are suitable facilities for home isolation and the person will adhere to the care plan. [new 2016]

For people with confirmed multidrug‑resistant TB whose symptoms have improved and who are unable to produce sputum, discharge decisions should be taken by the multidisciplinary team and the health protection team. [new 2016]

Staff and visitors should wear filtering face piece (FFP3) masks during contact with a person with suspected or known multidrug‑resistant TB while the person is thought to be infectious. [2016]

Before deciding to discharge a person with suspected or known multidrug‑resistant TB from hospital, agree with the person and their carers secure arrangements for supervising and administering all anti‑TB therapy. [2016]

Discuss the decision to discharge a person with suspected or known multidrug‑resistant TB with:

• the infection control team and

• the local microbiologist and

• the local TB service and

• the health protection team. [2016]

Ensure negative pressure rooms used for infection control in multidrug‑resistant TB meet the standards of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Tuberculosis, and are clearly identified for staff, for example by a standard sign. Keep such signs up to date. [2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should follow NICE recommendations on contact tracing (see the section on contact tracing).They should coordinate contact investigations at places where the person with TB spends significant amounts of time. Examples could include pubs, crack houses, parks and community centres. The aim is to help identify people who have been living with them and people they frequently socialise with. [2012]

Multidisciplinary TB teams dealing with someone from an under-served group should work alongside health and social care professionals known to them to help trace relevant contacts. They should also work in partnership with voluntary, community and statutory organisations to conduct outreach contact investigations. [2012]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should, if available and appropriate, encourage peer educators or TB programme support workers to help with contact investigations involving under‑served people who have complex social networks. [2012]

Multidisciplinary TB teams in discussion with local Public Health England health protection teams should consider using digital mobile X‑ray for active case‑finding in settings identified by looking at social networks as places where under‑served people at risk congregate. They should also provide the necessary support so that multidisciplinary TB teams can use strain‑typing and social network analysis to ascertain where transmission is occurring in the community. (Examples of transmission sites may include pubs, crack houses, hostels and day centres.) They should focus on active case‑finding in the settings identified. [2012, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should coordinate incident or outbreak contact investigations at places where the person with active TB spends significant amounts of time. Examples include workplaces, schools, colleges, universities, childcare settings. Identify people that the person with TB frequently spends substantial time with, as outlined in the section on contact tracing. [new 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should refer any incident in a congregate setting to the local Public Health England health protection team for risk assessment within 5 working days of suspicion of a potential incident. [new 2016]

TB control boards working with local health protection teams should, through local arrangements, mobilise existing staff or have access to an incident team that will:

• undertake an incident risk assessment and provide advice

• support or undertake contact investigations

• provide information and communication support to the multidisciplinary TB team, the local director of public health, the setting in which the incident has occurred and the people affected including:

  • written advice, printed or by email

  • question and answer sessions

  • telephone advice

  • media engagement

• gather and collate data, and report on outcomes to measure the effectiveness of the investigation (for example, offering testing to all people identified at risk and monitoring uptake)

• report back to TB control boards at appropriate times. This includes when outcomes of initial investigation of people classified as close contacts are available. It also includes when a decision is made to broaden the investigation to the next stage using the concentric circle method for risk assessment. [new 2016]

When incidents have been identified, multidisciplinary TB teams in discussion with local Public Health England health protection teams should consider providing support for strain‑typing and other analysis to ascertain where transmission is occurring. (Examples of transmission sites may include workplaces, schools, colleges, universities, childcare settings.) [new 2016]

In all types of contact investigation scenarios (active case finding, incident or outbreak investigations) multidisciplinary TB teams should investigate all people who have been in contact with children who have pulmonary or extrapulmonary TB to identify the primary source of infection. If necessary, they should look beyond immediate close contacts to find the source. [2012, amended 2016]

Allocate a named TB case manager to everyone with active TB as soon as possible after diagnosis (and within 5 days). The clinical team should tell each person who their named TB case manager is and provide contact details. [2006, 2012 amended 2016]

The TB case managers should work with the person diagnosed with TB to develop a health and social care plan, and support them to complete therapy successfully. The TB case manager should:

• offer a risk assessment to every person with TB, to identify their needs and whether they should have enhanced case management including directly observed therapy

• educate the person about TB and the treatment

• develop an individual care plan after discussion with the person

• gain the person's consent to the plan and agree a review date (for example, when moving from initiation to maintenance, or at each contact to ensure the person's needs are being met)

• coordinate discharge planning, especially for people on directly observed therapy

• involve representatives from other allied professions and key workers from all organisations who work with the person, if appropriate

• explore appropriate ways that peers and voluntary organisations can provide support. [2006, 2012, amended 2016]

Offer directly observed therapy as part of enhanced case management in people who:

• do not adhere to treatment (or have not in the past)

• have been treated previously for TB

• have a history of homelessness, drug or alcohol misuse

• are currently in prison, or have been in the past 5 years

• have a major psychiatric, memory or cognitive disorder

• are in denial of the TB diagnosis

• have multidrug‑resistant TB

• request directly observed therapy after discussion with the clinical team

• are too ill to administer the treatment themselves. [2012, amended 2016]

In children whose parents are members of any of the above groups, offer directly observed therapy as part of enhanced case management and include advice and support for parents to assist with treatment completion. [2016]

Re‑evaluate the need for directly observed therapy throughout the course of TB treatment whenever the person's (or in the case of children, parents') circumstances change. [new 2016]

TB case managers should ensure the health and social care plan (particularly if directly observed therapy is needed) identifies why a person may not attend for diagnostic testing or follow a treatment plan, and how they can be encouraged to do so. It should also include ways to address issues such as fear of stigmatisation, support needs and/or cultural beliefs, and may include information on:

• demographics (for example, age, nationality, place of birth, length of time in UK)

• all current prescribing regimens

• housing needs and living situation, including looked‑after children

• substance misuse (drugs or alcohol)

• any contact with the criminal justice system

• the need for hepatitis B and C or HIV testing (see recommendations 1.2.5.2 and 1.2.5.3 in the section on managing latent TB in adults and recommendation 1.2.6.1 in the section on managing latent TB in children and young people)

• HIV status

• other health conditions (physical or mental)

• communication factors (for example, language and literacy levels)

• ability to access treatment (mobility and transport needs)

• employment or entitlement to benefits

• legal or immigration status (including risk of removal or relocation within the UK)

• any enablers or incentives to overcome anything that is stopping diagnosis or treatment. [2012, amended 2016]

The health and social care plan should:

• state who will be observing treatment and where (if the person is having directly observed therapy this should be provided at a location that is convenient and accessible to them, for example, at a methadone clinic) [2012, amended 2016]

• include actions to take if contact with the person is lost (for example, keeping details of people who might be able to help re‑establish contact) [2012]

• refer to, and be coordinated with, any other care plan already established for the person [2012]

• define the support needed to address any unmet health and social care needs (for example, support to gain housing or other benefits, or to help them access other health or social care services) [2012, amended 2016]

• include a commitment from the person to complete their TB treatment [2012, amended 2016]

• be supported by frequent contact with any key workers who work with the person. [2006 amended 2011, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should aim to find people with active TB who are lost to follow-up, or who stop using services before completing diagnostic investigations. They should report all those lost to follow‑up to local Public Health England teams, GPs, the referring organisation and specialist outreach teams. [2012]

To encourage people to follow their treatment plan, involve people in treatment decisions for active or latent TB from the start. Emphasise the importance of following the treatment plan when agreeing the regimen. [2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should implement strategies for active and latent TB to encourage people to follow the treatment plan and prevent people stopping treatment early. These could include:

• reminder letters, printed information, telephone calls, texts and apps using an appropriate language [2006, amended 2016]

• health education counselling and patient‑centred interviews [2006, amended 2016]

• tailored health education booklets from quality sources (see section on providing information for the public about TB) [2006, amended 2016]

• home visits [2006]

• random urine tests and other monitoring (for example, pill counts) [2006]

• access to free TB treatment for everyone (irrespective of eligibility for other NHS care) and information about help with paying for prescriptions [2006, 2012, amended 2016]

• social and psychological support (including cultural case management and broader social support) [new 2016]

• advice and support for parents and carers [new 2016]

• incentives and enablers to help people follow their treatment regimen. [new 2016]

TB control boards should ensure services take into account the barriers facing vulnerable migrants who may need treatment, and in particular the stigma they may face. Other issues include the location of services (both geographically and in terms of opening times) and people's language and cultural needs, in terms of the format of advice and the type of information given. [2012, amended 2016]

On arrival at a prison or immigration removal centre, healthcare professionals should ask all prisoners and detainees (including those being transferred from other establishments) if they are taking TB medication, to ensure continuity of treatment. [2012]

All prisoners and immigration removal centre detainees having treatment for active TB should have a named TB case manager. The case manager should be responsible for contingency planning for discharge from prison or detention. [2012]

Prisons and immigration removal centres should ensure multidisciplinary TB staff have access to prisoners and detainees who need treatment (for example, by being given security clearance). [2012]

All prisoners having treatment for active TB should have directly observed therapy. [2012]

Prison health services should have contingency, liaison and handover arrangements to ensure continuity of care before any prisoner on TB treatment is transferred between prisons or released. In addition, other agencies working with prisoners or detainees should also be involved in this planning. [2012]

Prison and immigration removal centre healthcare services should liaise with the named TB case manager (from the multidisciplinary TB team) to ensure contingency plans for continuation of treatment are drawn up for prisoners and immigration removal centre detainees with TB. [2012]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should ensure accommodation is available for the duration of TB treatment after the prisoner or detainee's release (see section on Identifying and managing active TB in prisons, custody suites or immigration removal centres: organisational factors). [2012]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should ensure directly observed therapy is arranged for prisoners or detainees being treated for TB after their release. This should be available close to where they will live in the community. [2012]

In people who have experienced a treatment interruption because of drug‑induced hepatotoxicity:

• investigate other causes of acute liver reactions and

• wait until aspartate or alanine transaminase levels fall below twice the upper limit of normal, bilirubin levels return to the normal range and hepatotoxic symptoms have resolved then

• sequentially reintroduce each of the anti‑TB drugs at full dose over a period of no more than 10 days, starting with ethambutol and either isoniazid (with pyridoxine) or rifampicin. [new 2016]

In people with severe or highly infectious TB who need to interrupt standard therapy because of a reaction, consider continuing treatment:

• for hepatotoxicity, a combination of at least 2 anti‑TB drugs of low hepatotoxicity (such as ethambutol and streptomycin, with or without a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, such as levofloxacin or moxifloxacin) and monitor with a liver specialist for further reactions
  
  See the MHRA January 2024 advice on restrictions and precautions for using fluoroquinolone antibiotics because of the risk of disabling and potentially long-lasting or irreversible side effects.
  
  Not licensed for tuberculosis, so use would be off label. The prescriber should follow relevant professional guidance, taking full responsibility for the decision. Informed consent should be obtained and documented. See the General Medical Council's Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices for further information.

• for a cutaneous reaction, a combination of at least 2 anti‑TB drugs with a low risk of cutaneous reactions (such as ethambutol and streptomycin) and monitor with a dermatologist for further reactions. [new 2016, amended 2019]

If another reaction of a similar or greater severity occurs because of reintroducing a particular drug, do not give that drug in future regimens and consider extending the total regimen accordingly. [new 2016]

Follow‑up clinic visits should not be conducted routinely after treatment completion. [2006]

Tell patients to watch for symptoms of relapse and how to contact the TB service rapidly through primary care or a TB clinic. Key workers should ensure that patients at increased risk of relapse are particularly well informed about symptoms. [2006]

Patients who have had drug‑resistant TB should be considered for follow‑up for 12 months after completing treatment. Patients who have had multidrug‑resistant TB should be considered for prolonged follow‑up. [2006]

Public Health England, in partnership with NHS England, should take responsibility for national oversight of TB prevention and control activities. This includes setting up TB control boards (see section 1.8.2). [2012, amended 2016]

Public Health England and NHS England should consider working together to establish control boards in agreed geographical areas and employ appropriate staff (see recommendation 1.8.2.3). [new 2016]

Clinical commissioning groups and local authority public health teams working in partnership with Public Health England and NHS England should consider collaborative commissioning arrangements through TB control boards. This could, for example, include working with 1 or more clinical commissioning groups to cover a major metropolitan district, region or TB control board area taking into account:

• local TB incidence

• local at‑risk populations and their movements across different geographical areas

• existing service configurations for organisations involved in TB prevention and control

• the need to share services, such as mobile X‑ray facilities, and outreach incident teams across different geographical areas. [2012, amended 2016]

TB control boards should develop TB prevention and control programmes working with commissioners, Public Health England and NHS England. The board could include clinical, commissioning (from clinical commissioning groups, local government and the voluntary sector) and public health leaders and people with TB or groups who advocate on their behalf from across the control board area. This may include identifying a lead clinical commissioning group, which could be led by an executive director of that commissioning group working with the board. Feedback mechanisms between local commissioning groups and the TB control board should be developed. [new 2016]

An executive director of local commissioning groups, working with the local director of public health or another nominated public health consultant, should lead implementation of the programme in their locality. The lead should ensure a comprehensive prevention and control programme is commissioned to support the level of need (see section on local needs assessment) and that they work with the control board regularly. [2012, amended 2016]

Working together through TB control boards and local networks, commissioners, local government and Public Health England should ensure TB prevention and control programmes set up multidisciplinary TB teams to provide all TB services (see section on commissioning multidisciplinary TB support). They should ensure that local strategy and service commissioning focuses on an end-to-end pathway. [2012, amended 2016]

Working together through TB control boards, commissioners and Public Health England should ensure the TB prevention and control programme is informed by relevant NICE guidance and developed in collaboration with clinical services. It should also be informed by the standard minimum data set collected through local needs assessment and service audit. [2012, amended 2016]

Working together through TB control boards, commissioners and Public Health England should ensure the TB prevention and control programme targets all ages, including children, and covers all aspects of TB prevention and control (see recommendations 1.8.2.1 and 1.8.2.2), including but not limited to:

• active case finding (contact investigations and identifying latent TB in high‑risk groups)

• awareness‑raising activities

• standard and enhanced case management (including providing directly observed therapy and free treatment)

• finding people lost to follow‑up and encouraging them back into treatment

• incident and outbreak control

• monitoring, evaluating and gathering surveillance and outcome data. [2012, amended 2016]

Working together through TB control boards, commissioners, Public Health England and the voluntary sector should ensure TB prevention and control programmes take account of the need to work with other programmes targeting specific high‑risk groups, such as those who are under-served. Examples include programmes focused on the health of asylum seekers and refugees, under-served children, homelessness and housing, offenders and people who misuse substances. [2012, amended 2016]

TB control boards should consider integrating TB and HIV services, joint clinics and training opportunities. [new 2016]

Commissioners should consider commissioning support and advice to all groups diagnosed with TB irrespective of whether they are under‑served. [new 2016]

TB control boards should be responsible for developing a TB prevention and control programme based on the national strategy and evidence‑based models. [new 2016]

TB control boards should plan, oversee, support and monitor local TB control, including clinical and public health services and workforce planning. [new 2016]

TB control boards should assess services in their area, identify gaps in provision and develop plans to meet these, including:

• undertaking a workforce review to support local or regional commissioning of TB services to meet the needs of their population (see sections on local needs assessment and cohort review)

• supporting development of appropriate services and pathways to improve access and early diagnosis (see the sections on rapid‑access radiology and other investigation results: referral to multidisciplinary TB team process, non‑clinical roles including TB support workers and rapid‑access TB services)

• negotiating arrangements to cover the cost of additional services to address specific gaps in current TB control arrangements. [new 2016]

TB control boards should ensure cohort review is undertaken at least quarterly, and the results are fed back to local clinical and TB networks. These should be agreed by accountable bodies such as clinical commissioning groups, trust management, regional Public Health England and centre directors and local authority directors of public health as agreed, all of whom should make sure appropriate action is taken. [new 2016]

TB control boards should enable full and consistent use of national guidelines including:

• ensuring the needs of all people with TB, particularly under‑served populations, are addressed

• ensuring contact tracing arrangements are appropriate to the needs of the population (see the section on case finding)

• assuring themselves that TB control in low‑incidence areas is established and delivered appropriately (see the section on rural services: organisational and support factors)

• assuring themselves that multidrug‑resistant TB is managed appropriately (see the section on multidrug‑resistant TB) and mechanisms are in place to ensure:

  • there is sufficient clinical expertise available to manage cases

  • regional multidrug‑resistant TB networks take account of expert advice (see section 1.8.3). [new 2016]

TB control boards should develop links and partnerships and establish agreed relationships and lines of accountability between TB control boards and local clinical and TB networks. This includes engaging with other key stakeholders to ensure universal coverage of TB control efforts. [new 2016]

TB control boards should collaborate with their local and regional partners. They should agree and establish regular monitoring, surveillance and reporting arrangements with all partners to support needs assessment (see the section on local needs assessment) and regular audit and evaluation. [new 2016]

TB control board staff should have clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Their roles and responsibilities could include:

• Establishing the links, partnerships and relationships between all aspects of the control board area within their remit (if necessary across usual geographical commissioning boundaries).

• Developing and supporting adoption and implementation of evidence‑based model service specifications for the clinical and public health actions needed to control TB including:

  • improving access and early diagnosis (see the sections on raising and sustaining awareness of TB, providing information for the public about TB, rapid‑access radiology and other investigation results: referral to multidisciplinary TB team process and non‑clinical roles including TB support workers)

  • diagnostics, treatment and care services (see the sections on latent TB and active TB)

  • contact investigations and tracing (see the sections on diagnosing latent TB in adults and case finding)

  • cohort review

  • vaccination (see the section on BCG vaccination)

  • drug resistance (see the section on multidrug‑resistant TB)

  • tackling TB in under‑served populations

  • surveillance, monitoring and quality assurance

  • workforce development and commissioning (see the sections on commissioning multidisciplinary TB support and non‑clinical roles including TB support workers). [new 2016]

TB control boards should ensure there is sufficient capacity available to them to manage a sudden increase in demand such as:

• TB contact investigations, (such as incidents in congregate settings)

• large scale active case‑finding initiatives in under‑served groups in the community

• outbreaks in a variety of settings or sites where transmission risk may be high, including but not limited to schools, workplaces, hostels and prisons. [new 2016]

To set up, monitor and evaluate a TB control programme, TB control boards should:

• agree plans within their partnerships to assess local services against the service specifications

• develop plans and quality standards to secure improvements

• establish quality assurance mechanisms and regular audits including, but not limited to, cohort review for all aspects of the TB control board partnership plans. [new 2016]

TB control boards should consider setting up a regional multidisciplinary TB network to oversee management of multidrug‑resistant TB. This could:

• Identify and designate regional expert centres.

• Ensure all healthcare professionals who suspect or treat a case of multidrug‑resistant TB are informed about and have access to specialist advisory services for multidrug‑resistant TB. This includes the designated expert centre in their regional network and may also include the national advisory service for multidrug-resistant TB (currently provided by the British Thoracic Society).

• Ensure all cases of multidrug‑resistant TB are discussed at the regional multidisciplinary TB team meeting in the local clinical network.

• Formally consider and record the advice from the specialist advisory services for multidrug‑resistant TB provided by the designated regional expert centre or the national advisory service for multidrug‑resistant TB. [new 2016]

Commissioners in rural areas (working with the TB control board) should consider collaborative approaches to deliver and manage TB services. They could, for example, set up a network including areas with high and low incidence of TB. [new 2016]

Directors of public health, in discussion with local health protection teams, should ensure that TB is part of the joint strategic needs assessment. [2012, amended 2016]

Directors of public health should provide commissioners of TB prevention and control programmes and TB control boards with local needs assessment information annually using data provided by Public Health England. [2012, amended 2016]

Commissioners of TB prevention and control programmes should ensure services reflect the needs of their area, identified by needs assessment. Health and wellbeing boards should ensure that local TB services have been commissioned based on local needs identified through needs assessment. [2012, amended 2016]

Directors of public health and TB control boards should use cohort review (see section 1.8.6) and other methods to collect data on the following, to inform local needs assessment:

• Number of annual notified TB cases (see Public Health England's enhanced TB surveillance data and annual 'suite of indicators').

• Size, composition (for example, age and ethnicity) and distribution of local at‑risk groups.

• Indices of social deprivation.

• Local statutory and non‑statutory services working with these groups.

• Organisation of local TB services, including the composition and capacity of the local multidisciplinary TB team(see the results of local audit) and location of services. This may also include data to support evaluating the need for integrated TB/HIV services including joint clinics.

• Numbers needing enhanced case management (see the section on adherence, treatment completion and follow‑up).

• Numbers receiving directly observed therapy from the start of, or at any point during, treatment (see Public Health England's enhanced TB surveillance data).

• Evidence of recent transmission (for example, using DNA fingerprinting or surrogate markers such as number of cases in children under 5 years (see UK TB national strain-typing database and local incident and outbreak reports).

• Completeness and yield of contact investigations. This includes: proportion of smear‑positive cases with 0, 5 or more contacts identified; proportion of identified contacts clinically assessed; and proportion of contacts with latent TB infection who successfully complete treatment.

• Active case‑finding initiatives, incident contact investigations and identification of latent TB infection in high‑risk groups.

• Treatment outcomes for everyone grouped according to social risk factors and by the use of directly observed therapy (including rates of loss to follow‑up and treatment interruptions, see Public Health England's enhanced TB surveillance data).

• Local education and awareness‑raising programmes for under‑served groups, professionals and practitioners working with them.

• Views and experiences of people with TB, carers and the services working with them. [2012, amended 2016]

Local needs assessments should also be equity proofed to assess the potential effect of planning, commissioning and policy decisions on health inequalities (see planning and commissioning services in NICE's local government briefing on health inequalities and population health). [new 2016]

TB control boards and prevention and control programme leads should initiate, audit and evaluate cohort reviews in their commissioning area. Quarterly cohort review meetings should take place in the area covered by the programme. Combine these meetings with others if possible, or use technology to make it easier for clinicians and case managers to attend. [2012, amended 2016]

TB case managers should present standardised information on each case, including: demographic information, HIV test results, pre‑treatment and ongoing status (clinical, laboratory, radiology), adherence to treatment and the results of contact investigations. [2012, amended 2016]

TB case managers and key allied professionals from the TB prevention and control programme should attend cohort review meetings. This could include the lead clinician (who may or may not be the case manager). Either a paediatrician with experience and training in the treatment of TB or a general paediatrician with advice from a specialised clinician should be present when cases of children with TB are presented. [2012, amended 2016]

The chair of the cohort review should not work for any of the TB services included in the review. Examples of possible chairs include a public health consultant, a specialist physician or a senior TB nurse, preferably from a different geographical area. Alternatively the chair could be a representative from the local Public Health England health protection team or the TB control board. [2012, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams, in conjunction with Public Health England units, should collate and present cohort review data on TB treatment and the outcome of contact investigations at the review meetings. In addition, progress towards national, regional and local service targets should be presented. [2012, amended 2016]

TB control boards, directors of public health and local public health consultants should ensure outputs from the cohort review feed into the needs assessment for TB services. TB control board directors should attend the cohort review at least once a year. [2012, amended 2016]

TB case managers should feed back promptly to multidisciplinary TB teams on issues identified as a result of cohort review. The results of the cohort review should be collated locally and agreed by the chair before being fed back to TB control boards, commissioners and health and wellbeing boards regularly and via needs assessment. [2012, amended 2016]

People participating in a cohort review should review the results and evaluate local services (for example, auditing adverse outcomes, rates of culture confirmation, treatment completion rates or time to diagnosis). [2012, amended 2016]

Commissioners should ensure multidisciplinary TB teams:

• Have the skills and resources to manage the care of people with active TB who are not from under‑served groups. [2012, amended 2016]

• Include at least 1 TB case manager with responsibility for planning and coordinating the care of under‑served people and those with active TB who receive enhanced case management. [2012, amended 2016]

• Have the resources to manage latent TB care in under‑served groups and the wider population. [new 2016]

• Include a range of clinical specialties in the multidisciplinary TB team, including paediatrics, infection control and respiratory medicine. [2012]

• Have regular attendance at these multidisciplinary team and cohort review meetings for all team members included as a programmed activity as part of their work planning. [new 2016]

• Have the skills and resources necessary to manage the care of people with complex social and clinical needs (either directly or via an established route). This includes the ability to provide prompt access (or if necessary, referral) to skilled outreach and advocacy workers who can draw on the services of allied practitioners. The aim is to address people's housing, asylum, immigration, welfare, substance dependency and other health and social care needs. (The allied practitioner support should include both a specified housing officer and a social worker.) [2012]

• Can provide rapid access TB clinics for all cases, including under‑served groups. [2012]

• Consider providing administration support for TB nurses and case managers so they have capacity for clinical and case management work. This could include giving TB nurses access to computer hardware and software. [new 2016]

• Have the resources to provide a continuous service throughout the year, ensuring the TB service accounts for the following to manage continuity of care:

  • planned absence (for example, professional development, mandatory training, annual, maternity or paternity leave)

  • unplanned absence (such as sickness absence). [2012, amended 2016]

• Can provide prompt access to a professional who has training and experience in assessing and protecting children and vulnerable adults at risk of abuse or neglect. [2012]

• Have access to funds through local government and clinical commissioning groups that can be used flexibly to improve adherence to treatment among under‑served groups. For example, funds could be used to provide transport to clinics, to provide support or enablers for treatment, or for paying outreach workers or community services to support directly observed therapy. Funds may also be used to provide accommodation during treatment. [2012, amended 2016]

• Have the resources to provide ongoing TB awareness‑raising activities for professional, community and voluntary (including advocacy) groups that work with populations at high risk of TB (see the section on raising and sustaining awareness of TB). These resources could be financed by local government or clinical commissioning groups. [2012, amended 2016]

Commissioners should ensure NHS England's safe staffing principles are applied when commissioning TB services.

The staffing ratios used in Public Health England and NHS England's collaborative tuberculosis strategy for England (published in 2015) came from NICE's guideline on tuberculosis: identification and management in under-served groups (published in 2012) which has been replaced by this guideline.

NICE's 2012 guideline on tuberculosis: identification and management in under-served groups recommended 1 WTE case manager per 40 incident cases needing standard management and 1 WTE case manager per 20 incident cases needing enhanced case management. [new 2016]

TB control boards and local TB services should consider employing trained, non‑clinically qualified professionals to work alongside clinical teams to agreed protocols, and to contribute to a variety of activities. Examples of this may include awareness raising and supporting people to attend appointments (including other health and social care appointments). They could also help with collecting samples, contact tracing, case management including directly observed therapy and cohort review, or any other aspect of the service if:

• they are trained to deliver the intervention or processes effectively

• they are supported, mentored and supervised by a named case manager, such as a TB nurse

• they have the skills to monitor, evaluate and report on their work practices and outcomes to maintain a process of ongoing evaluation and service improvement in relation to cohort review (see the section on cohort review). [new 2016]

TB control boards should ensure that people working in the TB service have the right knowledge, engagement, advocacy and communication skills to meet the needs (for example, language, cultural or other requirements) of all the groups they may work with. [new 2016]

Commissioners should consider taking into account different needs across traditional geographical and organisational boundaries. Put agreements in place so that staff can work across these boundaries, covering the whole service or TB control board area if appropriate. [new 2016]

Commissioners and TB control boards should ensure they put in place appropriate governance (including clear lines of accountability and extension of scope of practice) and data sharing practices and agreements. This includes ensuring they are part of service level agreements between NHS and non‑NHS services, for example, the third sector or local government, and appropriate training has been completed. [new 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should establish relationships with statutory, community and voluntary organisations that work with people at risk of TB to develop appropriate TB referral pathways. They should ensure these organisations know how to refer people to local TB services. [2012]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should accept referrals from healthcare providers and allied organisations working in the community with under‑served groups. This includes voluntary and statutory organisations (for example, mobile X‑ray teams or community organisations or outreach workers working with vulnerable migrants). [2012]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should accept self‑referrals to TB clinics by people who suspect they have TB or have recently been in contact with someone with TB. [2012, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should consider accepting direct referrals from emergency departments (see the section on rapid‑access radiology and other investigation results: referral to multidisciplinary TB team process). [new 2016]

Healthcare professionals should consider urgent referral to TB clinics for people with suspected active TB. They should also ensure the results from first‑line diagnostic tests (including a sputum smear and chest X‑ray) are available before the person sees a specialist. (Note: this should not delay the referral.) [2012, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should have pathways to triage referrals, start investigations and collect clinical information before the person is seen by a physician. [new 2016]

While triaging, multidisciplinary TB teams should ensure everyone is given information about TB as part of the process (see the section on providing information for the public about TB). This should include who the person should contact if they have any questions and how to access advice or information from support groups, national charities such as TB Alert and other sources such as local government (for example, public health or social care teams). [2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should ensure people who have a smear‑positive result or imaging features highly suggestive of smear‑positive TB (for example, evidence of cavitation on chest X‑ray) are assessed the next working day. This is so that case management and infection control procedures start promptly. [2012, amended 2016]

The multidisciplinary TB team should assess people who are not smear‑positive but have imaging that suggests pulmonary or laryngeal TB as soon as possible. This should be no later than 5 working days after a referral. [2012, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should, where necessary, be able to provide or arrange outreach services to ensure sputum samples or other assessments such as contact investigations can be arranged in the community. [2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams, prisons, custody suites and immigration removal centre healthcare services should have named TB liaison leads to ensure they can communicate effectively with each other. [2012, amended 2016]

Prison, custody suites and immigration removal centre healthcare services should develop a TB policy by working with the TB control board and multidisciplinary TB team and the local Public Health England health protection team. [2012, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams, in conjunction with prisons, custody suites and immigration removal centre healthcare services, should agree a care pathway for TB. This is to ensure that any suspected or confirmed cases are reported to, and managed by, the multidisciplinary TB team. [2012, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams, in liaison with prisons, custody suites or immigration removal centre healthcare providers, should manage all cases of active TB. Investigations and follow‑up should be undertaken within the prison or immigration removal centre if possible. [2012, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should assess the living circumstances of people with TB. Where there is a housing need they should work with allied agencies to ensure that all those who are entitled to state‑funded accommodation receive it as early as possible during their treatment, for example, as a result of a statutory homelessness review and identified need. [2012, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams, commissioners, local authority housing lead officers and other social landlords, providers of hostel accommodation, hospital discharge teams, Public Health England and the Local Government Association should work together to agree a process for identifying and providing accommodation for homeless people diagnosed with active pulmonary TB who are otherwise ineligible for state‑funded accommodation. This includes people who are not sleeping rough but do not have access to housing or recourse to public funds. The process should detail the person's eligibility and ensure they are given accommodation for the duration of their TB treatment. [2012, amended 2016]

Local government and clinical commissioning groups should fund accommodation for homeless people diagnosed with active TB who are otherwise ineligible for state‑funded accommodation. Use health and public health resources, in line with the Care Act 2014. [2012, amended 2016]

Multidisciplinary TB teams should make people who would not otherwise be entitled to state‑funded accommodation aware that they may lose this accommodation if they do not comply with treatment. They should ensure plans are made to continue housing people once their TB treatment is completed. [2012]

Public Health England, working with the Local Government Association and their special interest groups, should consider working with national housing organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Housing, Homeless Link, Sitra and the National Housing Federation to raise the profile of TB. This is to ensure people with TB are considered a priority for housing. [new 2016]

Consider training housing commissioners and frontline staff on TB and the need for housing support, so that they understand that a stable home life is a prerequisite to successful TB treatment. [new 2016]