Primary Care Screening and Treatment for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults: Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force -

Primary Care Screening and Treatment for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults: Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force
Information type: Systematic reviews
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association
Specialities: Infection and infectious diseases | Respiratory disorders
Summary
This review of 72 studies (n=51,711) found that tuberculin skin tests and interferon-gamma release assays are moderately sensitive and highly specific within countries with low TB burden, and that treatment reduced the risk of active tuberculosis.
UKMi comment
This review was used to inform the recent “US Preventative Services Task Force Recommendation for the Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults”. This US guidance recommends screening for the condition in populations at increased risk as it provides a moderate health benefit in preventing progression to active disease, and the harms of screening and treatment are small.
Related links: US Preventative Services Task Force Recommendation for the Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults