Immunocompromised patients are at risk of TB
Overall, about 5–10% of people with latent TB infection will develop active TB disease at some time in their lives. The risk of active TB is greater in people suffering from conditions that impair the immune system.
- People who are infected with HIV are 16 times more likely to develop active TB (1).
- TB is the leading cause of death among HIV-infected patients (2).
Let’s see how systematic latent TB testing and treatment can prevent the progression of latent TB to TB disease in immunocompromised patients.
Ensure peace of mind for people with HIV
As a result of immunosuppression, people living with HIV are at increased risk for TB, and reliable surveillance is critical to protect their health.
Thus, timely diagnosis and early treatment are vital to preventing its progression to disease. The WHO recommends systematic latent TB testing and treatment for all persons living with HIV – regardless of country incidence or income (4).
The WHO recommends IGRA testing using QuantiFERON technology
Reduce the risk of active TB in immunocompromised patients
QFT-Plus is the modern alternative to the tuberculin skin test.
References:
- World Health Organization. (2022) WHO Tuberculosis Key Facts. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis (accessed January 15, 2023)
- Machuca, I., Vidal, E., de la Torre-Cisneros, J., Rivero-Román, A. (2018). Tuberculosis in immunosuppressed patients. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 36(6), 366–374.
- Lobue, P. and Menzies, D. (2010) Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection: An update. Respirology. 15, 603.
- World Health Organization. (2020) WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: tuberculosis preventive treatment. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-consolidated-guidelines-ontuberculosis-module-1-prevention-tuberculosis-preventive-treatment