Increasing the efficiency and yield of a tuberculosis contact investigation through electronic data systems matching.

Background: Electronic health data may improve the timeliness and accuracy of resource-intense contact investigations (CIs) in healthcare settings.

Methods: In September 2013, we initiated a CI around a healthcare worker (HCW) with infectious tuberculosis (TB) who worked in a maternity ward. Two sources of electronic health data were employed: hospital-based electronic medical records (EMRs), to identify patients exposed to the HCW, and an electronic immunization registry, to obtain contact information for exposed infants and their providers at two points during follow-up.