Quantifying the rates of late reactivation tuberculosis: a systematic review

Review of 110 studies that quantified tuberculosis reactivation rates more than 2 years after infection found diverse evidence that was unsuitable for meta-analysis. Reactivation risk seems to decrease over time since infection, and rates were lowest in those aged 6-14 years.

SPS commentary:

Authors conclude that late reactivation rates are commonly estimated or modelled to prioritise tuberculosis control strategies towards tuberculosis elimination, but significant gaps remain in our understanding that must be acknowledged; the relative importance of late reactivation versus early progression to the global burden of tuberculosis remains unknown.

Source:

The Lancet Infectious Diseases