Tuberculosis

We:

• Investigate all reports of active or suspected cases of Tuberculosis (TB)
• Ensure required follow-up has been done on all reported positive TB skin tests
• Provide TB skin testing to the public in our clinics
• Provide free TB medication for prophylaxis and treatment
• Provide information, advice on the management of LTBI and Active TB cases to healthcare providers
• Provide multilingual resources on TB

Tuberculosis screening requirements

Long-term care homes are legislated under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 to ensure that staff and residents are screened for tuberculosis upon admission or employment at the facility.

For residents

All residents when admitted must have a:

• Chest x-ray (baseline posterior-anterior and lateral)
• Two-step tuberculosis skin test (TST) within 14 days of admission, regardless of prior BCG vaccination (unless resident has a documented result of a previous two-step TST done within the last 90 days).

For staff

All staff must have a two-step TST ideally before placement, or within 14 days of starting work (unless employee has a documented result of a previous two-step TST done within the last 12 months). If the employee has a documented negative TST done longer than 12 months ago, they need a one-step TST.

Reporting requirements

Tuberculosis is a reportable disease under the Health Protection and Promotion Act - R.S.O. 1990, Chapter H.7.

Long-term care homes must report all residents and staff with any of the following to Public Health:

• Positive Mantoux TB skin test
• Latent TB infection
• Suspected active TB
• Confirmed active TB

How to report

Call the Reportable Disease and Outbreak Reporting Line at 1-800-265-7293, ext. 4752. After business hours, on weekends, or on statutory holidays, call 1-877-884-8653.

To report a positive Mantoux TB skin test result, use this form: Reporting Mantoux TB Skin Test (PDF) and fax to our secure reportable disease fax line: 519-846-3307.