u. Systematic Screening for Active TB - refers to the systematic, identification of people presumed to have active TB, in a predetermined.
v. Tuberculosis (TB) - an infection caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis.
w. TB Task Force - a group of volunteers who will assist in most activities in the implementation of the TB program under the supervision of the TB Council (No existing TB Council)
Sec. 5. Tuberculosis Control Program Policies. The Revised Manual of Procedures (MOP) 6th Edition for the National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP), provides important guidelines for the effective and efficient implementation of the TB Program. Therefore, all health care providers must abide and comply with all the provisions embodied in the MOP.
a. Systematic Screening will be implemented in DOTS (health) facility. Cough of two (2) weeks shall be primary screening tool for systematic screening while chest x-ray shall be done in targeted high risks groups.
b. Active Case finding shall be implemented in congregate settings, targeted community and workplace using chest x-ray as primary screening tool.
c. All people living with HIV (PLHIV) and those diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus shall be screened for TB.
d. All health (DOTS) facilities should set up a strong TB surveillance amongst all employees and health care workers by providing free annual x-ray.
e. Xpert MTB/RIF test shall be primary diagnostic tool for diagnosis of both pulmonary and extra pulmonary TB with or without high suspicion for multi-drug resistance. All presumptive pulmonary and extra pulmonary TB shall be asked to expectorate a sputum sample and should undergo XPert MTB/RIF Test.
f. Other screening test (i.e. Tuberculosis Skin Testing) TST, Interferon Gamma Release Assay -(IGRA) and Diagnostic Test (i.e. Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification – TB LAMP. Direct Sputum Smear Microscopy (DSSM) shall be sued for monitoring treatment of the patients.
g. All health (DOTS ) facilities, whether public or private shall established their own-in-house TB diagnostic laboratory (I.e. DSSM, Xpert MTB/Rif, Xpert Ultra and TB LAMP) All laboratories providing TB diagnostic tests shall participate in Quality Assurance (QA) System of NTP.
h. Direct Sputum Smear Microscopy (DSSM) shall be used for monitoring treatment of TB patients.
i. All health (DOTS) facilities whether public or private shall established their own-in-house TB diagnostic laboratory (i.e. DSSM, Xpert MTB/RIF, Xpert Ultra and TB LAMP). All laboratories providing TB diagnostic tests shall participate in Quality Assurance System of the NTP.
j. All diagnosed TB cases shall be provided with free adequate drugs and standard treatment for either drug susceptible or drug resistance TB regimen within 7 days from collection of sputum for diagnosis.
k. Adherence counseling should be done for every patient prior to treatment.
l. Fixed dose combination (FDC) composed shall be as first line drugs (i.e. Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol) for drug susceptible TB while second line drugs (i.e. Quinolones, Bedaquiline, Delamanid, etc.) for drug resistant TB. For Latent TB
