Tuberculosis Epidemiologic Studies Consortium (TBESC)

TBESC-II

Study Sites

  • California Department of Public Health
  • Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Colorado
  • Duke University, North Carolina and Tennessee
  • Emory University, Georgia
  • Hawaii Department of Health
  • Public Health-Seattle and King County, Washington
  • Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Arizona
  • Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • University of Florida
  • University of North Texas Health Science Center

Study 1: Evaluating tests for TB infection

This first TBESC-II study was a head-to-head comparison of the three tests for TB infection in populations at high risk of latent TB infection and/or progression to TB disease.

Sub studies

  • Repeatability and reproducibility of two interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood tests– the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT), and T-SPOT®.TB test (T-SPOT)
  • Feasibility and cost of testing for prediabetes and diabetes in high-risk persons tested for TB infection
  • Cost-effectiveness of TB infection testing in high-risk populations

Study 2: The latent TB infection care cascade

The second study focused on describing and quantifying the steps in the TB prevention cascade of care within health department clinics. This included better understanding the proportions of patients with latent TB infection who are identified, offered treatment, accept treatment, and complete treatment.

Sub studies

  • Developed algorithms to estimate latent TB infection prevalence at any county or state level.
  • Developed tools for local TB programs to identify local clinicians who treat underserved populations at high risk, so they can partner with these groups to increase latent TB infection treatment.
  • Used insurance billing codes to estimate the extent and magnitude of latent TB infection testing and treatment in commercial and community health sectors.

Study 3:  Closing the gaps in the TB care cascade

The third study focused on identifying barriers and facilitators to latent TB infection diagnosis and treatment at community health clinics (CHCs). Researchers collected and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data that can be used to inform development of interventions to improve targeted TB testing and latent TB infection treatment at CHCs.

TBESC-I

Research Projects information
Tuberculosis Epidemiologic Studies Consortium Research Projects
Task Order Task Order Title Principal Investigator
32 The Current Cost of TB within urban United States Jenny Pang
Thad Miller
Dolly Katz
31 Evaluation of Interferon Gamma Release Assays in Overseas Immigration Examination of Children in Moderate- and High-burden Countries Denise Garrett
John Painter
Drew Posey
Domestic:
Randall Reves
30 Quantifying the risk of premature death in TB survivors Suzanne Beavers
Thad Miller
Jenny Pang
29** Improving testing for TB and latent TB infection for Persons with HIV Infection at HRSA-funded HIV/AIDS Clinics Suzanne Marks
28 Treatment Practices, Outcomes and Cost of Multidrug-resistant (MDR TB) and Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB) in the United States Suzanne Marks
Lori Armstrong
27 Use of Nucleic Acid Amplification Test to Determine the Relative Infectiousness of Pulmonary TB Patients Suzanne Marks
26 Improving the Utilization and Integration of TB Genotyping into Routine TB Program Practice: Analyzing the Impact Through Public Health Interventions Roque Miramontes
Wendy Cronin
25 Tuberculosis Mortality in the United States: Epidemiology and Prevention Opportunities Suzanne Beavers
Jenny Flood
24 Perceptions of TB among the Karen-Burmese: An Ethnographic Study Robin Shrestha-Kuwahara
23 National Study of Determinants of Early Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of TB in the African-American Community Rachel Royce
Dolly Katz
21 Acquired Rifamycin-resistant TB among HIV infected patients Sundari Mase
20 Assessing QFT as an initial screening tool for U.S. bound applicants for immigration and feasibility of follow-up in U.S. immigrants Randall Reves
John Painter
Lilia Manangan
19 Effectiveness of Quantiferon- TB Gold (QFT-G) in contact tracing Lauren Lambert
Sharon Welbel
18 Evaluation of New Interferon-y Release Assays in the Diagnosis of Latent TB Infection in Health Care Workers Denise Garrett
Charles Daley
Susan Dorman
16* African Refugee Women’s Health Improvement Project Sue Etkind
Jennifer Cochran
15 Enhancing TB Programs’ Capacity for Self-Evaluation: Testing New Tools and Developing an Evaluation Toolkit Maureen Wilce
14 Culturally Appropriate TB Educational Materials for Leaders and Staff of Hispanic Service Organizations Wanda Walton
13 Factors Associated with Acceptance of, Adherence to and Toxicity From Treatment for Latent TB Infection and Pilot Study of Treatment for Latent TB Infection Effectiveness Robin Shrestha-Kuwahara
Stefan Goldberg
Paul Colson,
Yael Hirsch-Moverman
12 Assessing the TB Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices Among Private Providers Serving Foreign-born Populations at Risk for TB Wanda Walton
Jenny Pang
11 Addressing TB Among African Americans in the Southeast: Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to Treatment Adherence for Latent TB Infection and TB Disease Wanda Walton
Rachel Royce
10 New Model for Assessing TB Surveillance and Action Performance and Cost Scott McNabb
9 Missed Opportunities for TB Prevention in Foreign-Born Population in the United States and Canada Dolly Katz
Randall Reves
Amy Davidow
8 An Analysis of Molecular Epidemiology of Multi-Drug Resistant M. tuberculosis in the United States Edward Graviss
Patrick Moonan
Jenny Flood
7 Use of Network Analysis Methods to Characterize M. tuberculosis Transmission Patterns Among Women and Other High-Risk Populations Peter McElroy
Maureen Wilce
6 Regional Capacity-Building in Low-Incidence Areas Paul Tribble
5 Prevalence of Latent TB Infection Among High Risk Populations in the United States Rachel Albalak
4 Models for Incorporating HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral into Tuberculosis Contact Investigations Suzanne Marks
3 Zero Tolerance for Pediatric TB Mark Lobato
2 Prospective Evaluation of Immunogenetic and Immunologic Markers for Susceptibility to Tuberculosis Infection and Progression from M. Tuberculosis infection to active TB Mary Reichler
Tim Sterling
1 TBES Consortium: Core Requirements
*Alternate Track Task Order: Local initiative not reviewed and monitored by Research Committee
**Outside Funding Task Order: Project funded from outside of CDC Division of TB Elimination. Reviewed and monitored by Research Committee