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Tuberculosis Program

To prevent the spread of TB in the community through identification and treatment of active cases and preventive treatment of those with latent infection.

Services Provided:

  • Identification, assessment, and treatment of active TB cases, as well as consultation on patient case management for chest x-rays, lab tests, and medicines, either through the Health Department, private insurance companies, or occupational health services.
  • Screening of family members and other close contacts of active TB cases.
  • Consultation to physicians, nursing homes, Colorado State University Student Health Services, homeless shelters and employers on TB case management, disease control issues and policy development.
  • Follow-up and preventive treatment, when appropriate, for community members and case contacts with positive skin tests but not active TB.
  • Direct observed therapy for active TB cases

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is tuberculosis (TB)?
    TB is a contagious disease that is spread from person to person through the air by droplets of mucous containing the TB germ (tubercle bacilli), that are coughed up by a person who has active, pulmonary (lung) TB disease. TB disease may also affect other parts of the body such as the bones and joints.
  2. What does it mean if I have a positive skin test?
    A positive tuberculin skin test (PPD) means that you have been exposed and infected with the tuberculin germ, which can remain dormant in your body without making you ill for many years. In order to find out if you have the active TB disease (which is contagious), you need to have additional tests such as a chest x-ray. Anyone who has a positive test needs to be followed-up by your doctor, or the Health Department.
  3. What medical treatment is needed to cure active TB?
    A combination of medicines must be taken as scheduled for at least 6 - 12 months. Persons with active TB must have a health care worker be present and observe them while they take their medicines. If all the medicines are not taken as directed for this period of time, it is likely that the TB germ could become resistant to the medicines, which means the drugs are no longer effective in treating the disease. Treatment must then be started all over again with other, more expensive, less effective medicines, and taken for at least 2 years. The person could be contagious with drug resistant TB
  4. What are the signs and symptoms of active TB?
    A person with active TB may have chills, fever, night sweats, chest pain, prolonged cough which may include coughing up blood. They often lose weight, have a loss of appetite, and become tired easily. Chest x-ray and other tests are needed to diagnose the disease.
  5. Who will help pay for tests and medicines?
    The Health Department as well as employers and health insurance will provide for tests and treatment.

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Contact Information

Susanne Murray, RN
Linda Latelle, RN
(970) 498-6700
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