Global reporting on tuberculosis preventive treatment among contacts. Issue 3 (24th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Falzon, Dennis; den Boon, Saskia; Kanchar, Avinash; Zignol, Matteo; Migliori, Giovanni Battista; Kasaeva, Tereza
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 59:Issue 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-24
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02753-2021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge and one of the leading infectious killers in the world [1]. Approximately one-fourth of the world's population is estimated to be infected with TB bacilli, creating a large pool of individuals who can develop TB and die from it in the coming years [2, 3]. In the absence of an effective vaccine, measures to diagnose and treat both TB disease and TB infection remain pivotal to reduce global TB incidence to levels envisaged by the End TB Strategy of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international commitments [4, 5]. Giving medication to treat TB infection, known as TB preventive treatment (TPT), is an established part of care for people living with HIV, contacts of TB patients, people on immunotherapy and others at risk of developing TB [6]. The effectiveness of TPT depends on the correct identification of people who would most benefit from it, the use of regimens of proven efficacy and maximising adherence to treatment to the end. Unless these measures are implemented consistently, treatment may have negative repercussions on TB transmission and healthcare costs [7]. Country reports to WHO show low TB preventive treatment (TPT) coverage in contacts of people with TB, below global targets. More efforts are needed to find and evaluate TB contacts, help them access better regimens and complete TPT. https://bit.ly/3sp0FA3