Reporting of Tuberculosis

The Georgia TB Program has the legal responsibility for all TB clients in the state regardless of who provides the direct services.

Legislative authority

• Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.)
  Department 511, Chapter 511-2
• Rules and Regulations: Department of Human Services, Public Health Tuberculosis Control, Chapter 290-5-16

Reporting requirements

In Georgia, all tuberculosis must be reported immediately to the local county health department. Physicians, hospitals, laboratories and other health care providers are required to report any of the following:

• Any child less than 5 years discovered with Latent TB Infection
• Any confirmed case of TB
• Any suspected case of TB
• Any person being treated with two (2) or more anti-tuberculosis drugs
• Any positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Any positive smear for AFB (Acid Fast Bacilli)

How to report

• Report cases electronically through the State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SENDSS)
• Complete a  Notifiable Disease Report Form  and mail in an envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL to District Health Office or fax to District Health Office
• Call your County Health Department
• If your County Health Department cannot be reached, call the Georgia Department of Public Health at 404-657-2588

What happens when TB is reported?

The TB nurse at the local health department will gather all pertinent information from the person making the report. The patient will be contacted for an interview so a contact investigation can be initiated. The nurse will coordinate and monitor the treatment of the patient and make sure all contacts are promptly identified, evaluated and placed on treatment if appropriate.