Diagnosis and therapeutic approach of latent tuberculosis infection

Detection and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is an essential measure for tuberculosis (TB) control in low-incidence countries. However, such strategy is limited by the low predictive ability of the diagnostic tests for the development of active TB among infected people and the lon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEnfermedades infecciosas y microbiologia clinica Vol. 36; no. 5; p. 302
Main Authors Domínguez, José, Latorre, Irene, Santin, Miguel
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Spanish
Published Spain 01.05.2018
Subjects
Humans
Latent Tuberculosis - diagnosis
Latent Tuberculosis - drug therapy
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Diagnóstico
Treatment
Tuberculosis
Infección tuberculosa latente
Prueba tuberculínica
Tuberculin skin test
Interferon-gamma release assays
Tratamiento
Diagnosis
Latent tuberculosis infection
Pruebas de liberación de interferón gamma
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Summary:Detection and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is an essential measure for tuberculosis (TB) control in low-incidence countries. However, such strategy is limited by the low predictive ability of the diagnostic tests for the development of active TB among infected people and the long-term and toxic treatment regimens. The in vitro interferon-gamma release assays are more specific and sensitive than the tuberculin skin test (TST), and enable a better selection of cases requiring treatment. Nonetheless, their capacity to predict development of TB is still poor. In addition, treatment regimens for LTBI are long, and compliance rates are low. This review discusses the use of the available diagnostic tests and the new approaches to the diagnosis of LTBI, as well as its management in different clinical scenarios.
ISSN:1578-1852
DOI:10.1016/j.eimc.2017.11.014