Tuberculosis Elimination Program

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Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease.

TB causes far more deaths than any other infectious diseases worldwide. It infects one-third of the world’s population, and kills three million people every year (a quarter of the world’s preventable deaths).

The Harris County Public Health (HCPH) TB Elimination Program offers a variety of services aimed at TB prevention and control. These services are under the direction of a physician who – along with nurses and other TB Program staff – helps carry out the local fight against TB.

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The HCPH Tuberculosis Video Directly Observed Therapy Implementation (VDOT) Guide is an overview of how we incorporated video observed therapy into our Tuberculosis Elimination Program. This innovative approach to medicine helps reduce the stigma of TB, increases the ease of medication adherence and self-efficacy of patients, and reduces overall costs. In summary, the implementation of VDOT is a cost effective beneficial approach to preventing the spread of TB.

Click here to download VDOT Implementation Guide

Chest Clinic Operation Hours & Locations

SERVICES BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Same Day Appointments Available for TB Contacts and TB Cases

Phone: 832-927-7594
Fax: 832-927-0452

Northwest Houston (Antoine Site)
Tuesday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
5815 Antoine, Suite A, 
Houston, Texas 77091

Southeast Houston (Pasadena Site)
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
3737 Red Bluff Road 
Pasadena, Texas 77503

For information on riding METRO to our locations, go to www.ridemetro.org
or call (713) 635-4000.



Services

The HCPH TB Elimination Program provides the following services:
  • Complete evaluation, chest x-ray and treatment services for TB disease in HCPH TB Chest Clinics located in the northwest and southeast areas of Harris County 
  • Case management of TB cases and suspected cases, including those medically managed by other healthcare providers
  • Medication for suspects or cases of TB through the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) program 
  • Directly observed preventive therapy (DOPT) for children and adults who are household contacts to TB suspects or cases 
  • The use of Video Directly Observed Therapy (VDOT) in which health care workers observe patients taking their TB medications remotely via a mobile device. VDOT allows for monitoring of medication via video without routine in-person visits form health care workers
  • Investigation of contacts and screening of high-risk populations 
  • Consultation with state and nationally recognized experts. 
TB Reporting Guidelines

State law requires health care professionals to report confirmed or suspected cases of TB within 1 working day. To report confirmed or suspected TB cases, call (713) 439-6214 or (713) 439-6215, or fill out TB Intake Form and fax to (713) 439-6391. 

Court Ordered Management

Court ordered management of non-compliant TB cases is determined by the local health authority or the Regional Medical Director for patients who are unable or unwilling to adhere to treatment in accordance with Chapter 8a, Subchapter G of the Texas Health and Safety code (beginning with Section 81.151). It is based on any combination of the following:

  • Medical evaluation of a patient who has demonstrated failure of improvement with outpatient therapy
  • Failure to comply with the health authority’s medical control order for any reason
  • Continued threat to self or the public due to either of the above
Resources