Queensland Government
Queensland Government
Home / Refer your patient / Respiratory and Thoracic Medicine / Tuberculosis and non TB mycobacterial infections

Tuberculosis and non TB mycobacterial infections

Emergency department referrals

If any of the following are present or suspected, refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) and seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

  • Suspected tuberculosis with significant haemoptysis (defined as repeated expectoration of 5mL (1tsp) of blood or single episode of >20mL (1tbsp)

Does your patient wish to be referred?

Minimum referral criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

Category 1

Appointment within 30 days is desirable

  • Suspected or proven pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis
  • Suspected non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infection with cavitary lung disease or significant haemoptysis

Category 2

Appointment within 90 days is desirable

  • Suspected pulmonary non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infection
  • Suspected latent tuberculosis

Category 3

Appointment within 365 days is desirable

  • No category 3 criteria

If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria

Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis.

If you still need to refer your patient:

  • 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

Other important information for referring practitioners

Not an exhaustive list

  • Refer to HealthPathways for assessment and management information if available
  • Contact details for your local tuberculosis service can be found on the Queensland Health website: Contact a tuberculosis service webpage.
  • Where TB is considered highly likely, the case should be discussed with the MSCTBS without awaiting sputum culture results.
  • Where TB is considered unlikely or where non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection is suspected (such as chronic cough), it is appropriate to perform diagnostic tests before considering referral including sputum mycobacterial cultures and radiology tests (chest X-ray or HRCT scan of the chest).

Referral requirements

A referral may be rejected without the following information.

Essential referral information

History and Examination

  • Duration and severity of symptoms including dyspnoea, cough, chest pain, weight loss, night sweats, systemic symptoms
  • History of chronic lung disease
  • Travel history / immigrant status
  • Known contact with tuberculosis
  • History of HIV/AIDS or other immunosuppression

Pathology and Test Results

  • FBC, ELFT results
  • Sputum culture results (Please see Other Useful Information)

Imaging and Reports

  • CXR

Additional referral information (Useful for processing the referral)

Imaging and Reports

  • Chest CT

Out of catchment

Metro North Health is responsible for providing public health services to the people who reside within its boundaries. Special consideration is made for patients requiring tertiary care or services that are not provided by their local Hospital and Health Service. If your patient lives outside the Metro North Health area and you wish to refer them to one of our services, inclusion of information regarding their particular medical and social factors will assist with the triaging of your referral.

  • Impact on employment
  • Impact on education
  • Impact on home
  • Impact on activities of daily living
  • Impact on ability to care for others
  • Impact on personal frailty or safety
  • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

  • 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

  • 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
  • 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
  • Current medications and dosages
  • Drug allergies
  • Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

  • Full name (including aliases)
  • Date of birth
  • Residential and postal address
  • Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
  • Medicare number (where eligible)
  • Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
  • Preferred language and interpreter requirements
  • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

  • Full name
  • Full address
  • Contact details – telephone, fax, email
  • Provider number
  • Date of referral
  • Signature

  • 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.)
Back to top