Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Are you a BC healthcare professional caring for a patient with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)? This page has various NTM resources, including the BCCDC NTM referral form and pulmonary NTM guidelines.

Referrals

Provincial TB Services (TBS) is committed to providing British Columbians with appropriate, timely, and safe care. In addition, TBS provides support to physicians managing patients with NTM in outpatient clinics.

Please complete and fax the BCCDC NTM clinic referral form and specify your request:

MD-to-MD virtual consultation with/out a prescription. Indicate consultation by telephone (provide a phone number) or dictated consult note.
Prescription only. Any BC physician who wishes to establish their patient on NTM therapy is encouraged to provide this care.

Medications

Rifampin (or rifabutin) and ethambutol are currently provided at no cost by BCCDC Pharmacy Services; BCCDC-funded drug costs may be subject to change.

Provide a complete and signed rifampin and ethambutol prescription request with the medication name, specific dosage (not mg/kg), interval and duration.
In the lower mainland, requests must include the shipping address of the community pharmacy dispensing medications to your NTM patient. In all other areas of BC, requests must include the shipping address of the local health unit.
Medications shipped to a community pharmacy in the lower mainland may have extra costs applied (e.g., expedited shipments; community pharmacy professional fees; etc.)
BCCDC Pharmacy provides funded medication supplies only. The community pharmacy or local health unit must address any clinical concerns (e.g., drug interactions) with the original (non-BCCDC) prescriber.
Pharmacies or local health units reordering NTM medications should include a completed TB Adherence and Medication Re-order Form.

Note: The BCCDC Pharmacy does not provide other NTM medications (including macrolides or Special Access Program drug requests). A local pharmacy can dispense these medications, or physicians can request specialty medications via Health Canada Special Access Program to the community pharmacy.

NTM Guidelines

TB Physician Manual Section 12: Pulmonary NTM

These guidelines outline pulmonary NTM care pathways.
These guidelines are for BC physicians who care for patients with pulmonary NTM in community clinics.

Patient Medication Handouts

FAQs

Where can I find TB Requisitions?

‎Public Health Laboratory Mycobacteriology Requisition.

How do I request NTM Sensitivities?

The PHSA eLab Handbook includes a link to the NTM sensitivities requisition.

How do I complete eye exams in my office?

Go to the BCCDC TB Manual Appendix E for directions on assessing Visual Acuity and Colour Discrimination. Referral to a community Ophthalmologist or Optometrist for visual monitoring is also an option.

Where is the BCCDC NTM Referral Form?

‎BCCDC TB Clinics NTM Referral Form

Who accepts new NTM patient referrals?

Respirologists and Infectious Disease Specialists in each regional health authority support patients with NTM lung infections. Please get in touch with specialists in your area.

Do patients pick up their NTM prescriptions?

In the lower mainland, medications are shipped to the patient's pharmacy for dispensing. In other areas of BC, medications are shipped to the local health unit. The BCCDC Pharmacy in Vancouver does not provide a walk-in (counter) service for filling NTM prescriptions.

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Where are NTM patient handouts?

Please refer to our NTM patient page.

Provincial Health Services Authority