infectious diseases
APHL Convenes National
TB Conference
by Anne M. Gaynor, PhD, manager, HHST
Do not be fooled, over 9,000 cases of
tuberculosis (TB) occur every year in
the US. In 2015 there were 9,557 cases,
signaling a level of TB infection not
seen in this country since 1992. While
there was a slight decline in 2016
there is still an urgent need to address
the challenges of TB. How can the US
intensify efforts to combat the disease?
What can be done to strengthen existing
systems to prevent transmission of
active TB, and to detect and treat latent
TB infection in high-risk populations?
These urgent questions and others
of equal importance were addressed
in April at APHL’s 10th National
Conference on Laboratory Aspects of
Tuberculosis, hosted in collaboration
with the National Tuberculosis
Controller Association’s (NTCA’s) 2017 TB
Conference. The overlapping meetings
brought together TB experts from federal
agencies, public health laboratories,
universities and TB Control Programs.
After a welcome from Philip LoBue,
MD, FACP, FCCP, director, CDC Division
of Tuberculosis Elimination, Timothy
Rodwell, MD, PhD, MPH, assistant
professor, University of California San
Diego and senior scientific officer,
Foundation for Innovative New
Diagnostics (FIND), opened the meeting
with a stark metric: somewhere in the
world a TB patient dies every 18 seconds.
Despite that sobering statistic, Rodwell
dared the audience to
envision a better future:
one with quicker, more
direct testing from
primary specimens and
the ability to predict
effective treatment by
leveraging available
tools and data.
The work of APHL
member laboratories
received attention in
many sessions. Public
health laboratory
representatives presented
on their various testing
algorithms, low-tech
8
LAB MATTERS Summer 2017
approaches to quality improvement
using LEAN concepts, shorter incubation
times for DST methods, whole genome
sequencing and the role of MIC testing
were among the topics discussed.
CDC was likewise well represented
with sessions covering changes in
the MDDR service, the role of whole
genome sequencing, identifying
new genes or mutations that confer
resistance to isoniazid and pyrazinamide,
and the TB Aggregate Report. Award Winners:
In other sessions, TB researchers
discussed the acquisition of drug
resistance and the pathogenesis of
pulmonary TB, and members shared
solutions to common problems in TB
laboratories during a roundtable session
added to the conference this year. APHL honored Kenneth Jost (retired) from
the Texas State Department of State Health
Services, with the Tuberculosis Lifetime
Achievement Award in recognition of a
lifetime of distinguished service, leadership
and excellence to the field of tuberculosis
diagnostics and training.
In addition to information and resources,
the conference provided attendees
with a morale boost. At a joint session
with members of the NTCA, TB activist-
physician and former TB patient Dr. Kelly
Holland stressed the importance of every
aspect of the diagnosis and treatment
for each person with TB and everyone
involved in the process. As Conference
Planning Committee Chair Paula Snippes
Vagnone, MT(ASCP) observed at the
closing session, the meeting “reinforced
that, no matter which algorithm or
technology we use, what we do every
day is incredibly important.” ■ The National Tuberculosis Controllers
Association honored Jessica Gentry, Indiana
State Department of Health Laboratory,
with the Ed Desmond TB Laboratorian
Award, which honors her exemplary service,
dedication and leadership. It is awarded
each year to a TB laboratory professional.
Award winner Ken Jost with his former supervisor,
Denise Dunbar, manager, Mycobacteriology
and Mycology.
Other Awards:
The 10th National Conference on Laboratory
Aspects of Tuberculosis was co-located
with the 2017 TB Conference hosted by the
National TB Controller’s Association. Posters
from both associations were presented in a
combined session judged by NTCA. Two of
the four awardees were TB laboratorians.
2nd Place Poster (Tied): “Tennessee
Department of Health Laboratory Services
Implementation of GenXpert MTB/RIF Testing
in Non-Sputum Sources,” was presented
by Dorothy Baynham of the Tennessee
Department of Health Division of Laboratory
Services.
3rd Place Poster: “Evaluation of Gene
Xpert MTB/RIF in 70 Culture Positive Cases
of Tuberculous Meningitis,” was presented
by Kusum Sharma, a TB laboratorian at
Graduate Institute of Medical Education and
Research, Chandigarh, India
(from l to r:) Ed Desmond, award winner Jessica Gentry, Sara Blosser, supervisior,
Indiana TB Control Program and Eric Hawkins, Indiana TB Control Program Manager
PublicHealthLabs
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