Tuberculosis Team
Due to the global nature of our community, the city of Lowell’s
Health Department has designated two public health nurses to coordinate
the management of tuberculosis cases, in accordance with the
Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and Center
for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations.
The primary objectives of this department are the prevention of the
spread of this communicable disease, and the appropriate treatment of
the individuals.
The team meets monthly, and communicates continually with the State
Dept. of Public Health TB surveillance personnel, regarding Active TB
cases and their contacts.
The team communicates directly with both local and Boston hospitals to
plan the appropriate return of the individuals to the community, and
the follow up care necessary to complete treatment and prevent spread
of this disease.
Specific functions in the care and follow up of a Tuberculosis patient
may include, but may not be limited to the following:
- To assess the needs of the individual with TB.
- To assist in obtaining overall medical care
- To gather information regarding their contacts with others at home and in the community.
- To coordinate the testing and treatment of all those exposed to the case, with local clinics and private physicians, according to the individual needs.
- To assure compliance of the Active TB case, until treatment has been completed.
In order to reduce the incidence and spread of Tuberculosis, the TB Team has undertaken the development of presentations to educate both the public and private sectors, through the use of power point presentations and offering TB testing programs in the high-risk communities.

