Programs & Services for Tuberculosis (TB)

It is estimated that one in three people worldwide is infected with the TB bacteria. In Toronto, about 300 people become sick with tuberculosis every year. Treatment for TB disease involves taking medication every day for six months or longer. Although treatment can take a long time, a person can be cured of TB once treatment is complete.

Different specialty teams in the TB program work together to provide support for individuals with TB as well as their families and to help prevent the spread of TB in Toronto.

  • Provide case management services for people with active TB
  • Ensure adequate TB treatment is received and completed
  • Follow-up of individuals exposed to TB
  • Educate clients and contacts
  • Order TB medication for clients with TB disease and contacts with TB infection

Directly Observed Therapy

  • Ensure clients take medication correctly
  • Monitor for side effects
  • Prevent/Reduce drug resistance caused by interrupted drug therapy
  • Collaborates with Case Management Teams regarding client care
  • Manage TB disease and infection in the homeless/underhoused and corrections populations
  • Ensure adequate TB treatment is received and completed
  • Follow-up of individuals exposed to TB
  • Educate shelters, drop-in centers, clients, contacts and within correctional facilities
  • Coordinate TB follow-up upon discharge from correctional facilities
  • Liaise with Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and other Toronto Public Health programs

Medical Surveillance and Drug Order Team

  • Immigrants, refugees, visitors, visa students/workers identified through immigration surveillance are monitored for TB disease
  • Monitor clients with TB infection identified through routine surveillance
  • Order TB medication for clients with TB infection on immigration and routine surveillance
  • Order TB medication for Toronto clinicians whose clients live outside of Toronto

Provide free educational materials, presentations, and consultation to clients, community agencies and health professionals

  • Health promotion and community development
  • Outreach to populations at higher risk for TB disease and health professionals
  • Create and develop multi-language resource materials for clients and health professionals
  • Partner with community agencies to increase TB awareness
  • .Provide assessment, counselling and referral
  • Focus on income and housing
  • Provide internal and external consultation

TB STOP provides drop-in services for people who are homeless and under-housed as well as for service providers to the homeless in Toronto:

  • Symptom screening
  • Sputum collection
  • Referrals to other health professionals as appropriate
  • TB skin testing