We assessed tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic delays among patients with TB and COVID-19 in California, USA. Among 58 persons, 43% experienced TB diagnostic delays, and a high proportion (83%) required hospitalization for TB. Even when viral respiratory pathogens circulate widely, timely TB diagnostic workup for at-risk persons remains critical for reducing TB-related illness.
Keywords: COVID-19; California; SARS-CoV-2; TB; United States; bacteria; coronavirus disease; coronaviruses; deaths; diagnostic delay; hospitalization; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; treatment outcomes; tuberculosis; viruses.