Interventions for Tuberculosis Control and Elimination
Next
Previous
First
Last
Preventive therapy is given to persons with latent, sub-clinical infection with M tuberculosis with the aim of reducing the risk of progression to manifest tuberculosis.
It requires the use of tuberculin skin testing or the use of IGRAs to identify those with tuberculous infection. Because of the operating characteristics of the tuberculin test criteria that define a high probability of actual tuberculous infection, there is rarely certainty about the presence of tuberculous infection. Furthermore, not all persons with tuberculous infection have the same risk of developing tuberculosis. To judge the role of preventive therapy issues of both efficacy and operational effectiveness must be addressed.
