Who is at risk for TB?
It is estimated that up to 10% of people infected with M. tuberculosis will develop active TB in their lifetime. About one-quarter of the world’s population has a TB infection. The vast majority have no signs or symptoms of TB disease and are not infectious, although they are at risk of developing active TB disease and becoming infectious.
The WHO recommends systematic latent TB testing for TB risk groups, including (1):
- Adults, adolescents, children and infants living with HIV
- Children aged ≥ 5 years, adolescents and adults who are contacts of TB patients
- Patients initiating anti-TNF treatment, receiving dialysis, preparing for organ, hematological transplantation or have silicosis
The purpose of TB screening is to find cases at an early asymptomatic phase that is easily curable and find latent TB infection (LTBI) among individuals who may benefit from preventive treatment.
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Biologics
Treatment with biologic agents, in particular tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, has revolutionized the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. However, patients receiving anti-TNF-α therapy are at increased risk of TB infection.
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Diabetes
Diabetes is increasingly being recognized as an independent risk factor for TB. Someone with untreated latent TB infection and diabetes is more likely to develop TB disease than someone without diabetes. See how the development of TB in diabetes patients can be prevented by actively testing and treating LTBI.
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Pediatrics
Once infected with the TB bacteria, children with vulnerable immune systems are most at risk of progressing to active TB disease. TB is preventable, yet over 1.1 million children become ill with it every year. Find out how we can protect children from TB.
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Biologics
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Diabetes
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Pediatrics
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References:
- World Health Organization. (2020) WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: tuberculosis preventive treatment. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331170/9789240001503-eng.pdf
- Stop TB Partnership in collaboration with Imperial College, Avenir Health, Johns Hopkins University and USAID. The potential impact of the COVID-19 response on tuberculosis in high-burden countries: a modeling analysis.
QFT-Plus is an in vitro diagnostic aid for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. QFT-Plus is an indirect test for M. tuberculosis infection (including disease) and is intended for use in conjunction with risk assessment, radiography, and other medical and diagnostic evaluations. QFT-Plus Package Inserts, available in multiple languages, as well as up-to-date licensing information and product-specific disclaimers can be found at www.QuantiFERON.com.