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Tuberculosis

Emergency department referrals

All urgent cases must be discussed with the on-call Registrar to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment. Contact through

  • Caboolture Hospital (07) 5433 8888
  • Redcliffe Hospital (07) 3883 7777
  • Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (07) 3646 8111
  • The Prince Charles Hospital (07) 3139 4000

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

Category 2

Appointment within 90 days is desirable

  • 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  or local guidelines
  • Contact details for your local tuberculosis service can be found on the Queensland Health contact a tuberculosis service webpage.
  • Where TB is considered highly likely, the case should be discussed with the regional tuberculosis centre (Metro South Clinical TB Service in South east Queensland) without awaiting sputum culture results.
  • Where TB is considered unlikely, 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

  • Duration and severity of symptoms including dyspnoea, cough, chest pain, weight loss, night sweats, systemic symptoms
  • History of previous TB and chronic lung disease
  • Travel history / immigrant status
  • Known contact with tuberculosis
  • History of HIV/AIDS or other immunosuppression
  • FBC, ELFT and ESR results
  • Sputum culture results (Please see Other important  information for referring practitioners)
  • CXR

Additional referral information (Useful for processing the referral)

  • BCG vaccination status
  • Mantoux or interferon gamma release assay result (e.g. QuantiFERON), if available, for diagnosis of latent TB

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.)
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