Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis
Adult

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Emergency Referrals

Useful Management Information

Any patients with clinical suspicion of active pulmonary tuberculosis, or severe extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (e.g. meningitis) should be sent to the emergency department.
Consider extra-pulmonary TB if patient has correct epidemiological risk factors and suggestive clinical syndrome (e.g. LOW, night sweats, fevers; focal symptoms or signs such as new cervical lymphadenopathy)
HIV screening for cases of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis should be performed
Latent tuberculosis is considered to be a positive screening test (including QuantiFERON Gold testing or tuberculin skin testing) with a normal chest x ray and physical examination i.e. no evidence of active tuberculosis.
If patient has NO epidemiological risks for TB but has a positive QuantiFERON test, we suggest repeating the test prior to our appointment (can still refer with conflicting results)

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)	Latent tuberculosis in a patient who will receive immunosuppressive therapies in the next 30-90 days Active extra-pulmonary tuberculosis not sent to the emergency department
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)	Latent tuberculosis
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)	No category 3 criteria
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria Assessment and management information may be found on a range of conditions at HealthPathways If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested: Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.) Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Standard Referral Information

Reason for request

To establish a diagnosis
For treatment or intervention
For advice and management
For specialist to take over management
Reassurance for GP/second opinion
For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
Reassurance for the patient/family
For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

Relevant clinical information about the condition

Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
Physical findings
Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
All conservative options that have been pursued unsuccessfully prior to referral
Body mass index (BMI)
Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
Any special care requirements where relevant (e.g tracheostomy in place, oxygen required)
Current medications and dosages
Drug allergies
Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

Patient's Demographic Details

Full name (including aliases)
Date and country of birth
Residential and postal address including whether patient resides at an aged care facility
Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
Medicare number (where eligible)
Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
Name of delegate and contact details (Department of Corrective Services)
Preferred language and interpreter requirements
Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Any special needs, access requirements and/or disability relevant to the referral

Referring Practitioner Details

Full name
Full address
Contact details – telephone, fax, email
Provider number
Date of referral
Signature
Nominated general practitioner’s details (if known), if the nominated general practitioner is different from the referring practitioner

Other relevant information

Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)

Essential Referral Information

All referrals

Epidemiological risk factors
Any history of previous tuberculosis treatment
Medication history
CXR
Language or cultural barriers that would be useful to know prior to booking to facilitate appropriate supports

Latent tuberculosis

The indication for latent tuberculosis screening should be included in the referral
Results of QuantiFERON testing or tuberculin skin testing
Results of chest imaging
Results of sputum testing
Baseline FBC and LFT

Extra- pulmonary tuberculosis

Imaging confirming site of infection
HIV testing

Additional Referral Information

If referring to Emergency for active pulmonary Tuberculosis, please include history, epidemiological risks, examination findings and investigations completed in the transfer letter.

In addition, please send patient in a respirator and inform Emergency staff in advance of transfer for active TB.

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Not Available

Secure Web Transfer

Not Available

Internal Referrals

(E-Blueslips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 559 083

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

HealthPathways home page

Service Availability

Dr Kylie Alcorn

Medical Director Infectious Diseases

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

Robina Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis and latent tuberculosisAdult