The Georgia Department Of Community Health 
A SNAPSHOT OF 
Tuberculosis (TB) 
 
THE NUMBERS 
 
 415 tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported in 
 
Number of Reported TB Cases 
 
Georgia in 2009 - a 13% percent decrease from 
 
Georgia,1993-2008 
 
478 cases in 2008  The counties reporting the highest number of TB 
cases in 2009 were: (Fulton (81), DeKalb (62), Gwinnett (58), and Cobb (18)  TB cases were predominantly male (66%), African American (45%) and US-born (58%)  Two multi-drug resistant case were reported in 2009 and 39 cases (14%) were resistant to Isoniazid 
 
Number of Cases 
900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 
0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
Number 809 740 746 790 696 631 665 696 577 535 532 537 503 507 473 478 
Year Case Counted 
 
 95% of TB patients scheduled to complete 
 
treatment for active disease by 2009 completed a 
 
full course of treatment; and 82 percent received 
 
treatment exclusively by directly observed therapy (DOT) 
 
 In 2008, the year for which we have updated contact data, approximately 942 (19%) contacts of 
 
active TB cases were infected with latent TB and 65% completed treatment to prevent progression to 
 
active TB disease 
 
THE RESOURCES 
 The State TB program ensures all active cases of TB are identified and receive comprehensive evaluation and treatment. Each health district has a contract physician available to provide medical services for TB cases and contacts within the community. Local health departments provide individualized case manangement to TB clients including screening, chest x-rays, bacteriology, monthly clinic evaluations, social services, and housing to homeless clients, TB medications needed for treatment are provided at no cost the the client. Directly observed therapy (DOT) is the standard of care in Georgia and is available in all health districts. DOT means that public health staff arrange for a responsible person to make sure the patient takes medication consistently, either at home, at work, or in a clinic or doctor's office. DOT prevents the development of multi-drug resistant TB and ensures the completion of treatment 
 The local health departments conduct a contact investigation on every case of active TB identified. Public health staff interview the TB client to determine where the client has been and who the client may have exposed. The staff then locates, notifies and evaluates each contact for TB infection and/ or TB disease. If latent TB infection (LTBI) is diagnosed, treatment is offered to the contact. TB medications are provided at no cost to the TB client 
 Since 1996, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, in collaboration with the American Lung Association - SE Region, has been providing DOT, housing and social services to homeless infectious TB patients statewide 
 When hospitalization is necessary for acute care of a person with TB, DHR has contracts with public and private hospitals. Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta has 73 isolation beds for patients either suspected of or diagnosed as having infectious TB. Other hospitals throughout the state have smaller numbers of beds for infectious TB patients 
 
For more information about tuberculosis in Georgia, contact 404-657-2634 or visit health.state.ga.us/ programs/tb. 
2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga 30303 w www.dch.georgia.gov 
January 2011