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latent tuberculosis; inactive tuberculosis
Epidemiology:
- latent tuberculosis is not transmissible [10]
Diagnostic criteria:
1) a positive tuberculin skin test or IFN-gamma release assay without evidence of active tuberculosis infection [3]
2) persons with a history of untreated TB or radiographic evidence of previous TB
Laboratory:
- tuberculin skin test or IFN-gamma release assay*
- screening for HIV1 (all patients with latent tuberculosis)
* preferred test for latent tuberculosis [3]
* see screening for tuberculosis Radiography:
- chest X-ray is normal [3]
Management:
- isoniazid + rifapentine weekly for 3 months (12 weeks) [7]
- isoniazid: 15 mg/kg once weekly; max 900 mg
- rifapentine
- 10-14 kg: 300 mg weekly
- 14-25 kg: 450 mg weekly
- 25-32 kg: 600 mg weekly
- 32-50 kg: 750 mg weekly
- > 50 kg: 900 mg weekly
- isoniazid + rifampin daily for 3 months (12 weeks) [7]
- rifampin for 4 months duration (HIV negative) [3,7]
- 10 mg/kg QD; max 600 mg
- rifampin is a better option than isoniazid [6]
- Alternative regimens [7]
- INH daily for 6 months
- INH daily for 9 months
- self-administered weekly treatment for latent tuberculosis acceptable strategy in the U.S. [4]
- patients should be treated for latent tuberculosis before treatment with a biologic agent (TNF-alpha inhibitor)
- patient on TNF-alpha inhibitor found to have latent tuberculosis, should be treated*
* apparently not necessary to stop TNF-alpha inhibitor
* treat as latent tuberculosis [3]
Related
screening for tuberculosis
General
tuberculosis
References
- Horsburgh CR and Rubin EJ.
Clinical practice. Latent tuberculosis infection in the United
States.
N Engl J Med 2011 Apr 15; 364:1441.
PMID: 21488766
- Getahun H, Matteelli A, Abubakar I et al.
Management of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection:
WHO guidelines for low tuberculosis burden countries.
Eur Respir J 2015 Sep 24
PMID: 26405286
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 17, 18, 19.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2015, 2018, 2021
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 19
Board Basics. An Enhancement to MKSAP19.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2022
- Belknap R, Holland D, Feng PJ et al
Self-administered Versus Directly Observed Once-Weekly Isoniazid
and Rifapentine Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection:
A Randomized Trial.
Ann Intern Med. 2017. Nov 7.
PMID: 29114781
http://annals.org/aim/article-abstract/2661483/self-administered-versus-directly-observed-once-weekly-isoniazid-rifapentine-treatment
- Getahun H, Matteelli A.
Tailoring Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis to the Needs of
Patients and Families.
Ann Intern Med. 2017. Nov 7
PMID: 29114744
http://annals.org/aim/article-abstract/2661484/tailoring-treatment-latent-tuberculosis-needs-patients-families
- Getahun H et al.
Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
N Engl J Med 2015 May 28; 372:2127
PMID: 26017823
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1405427
- Borisov AS, Bamrah Morris S, Njie GJ, et al.
Update of Recommendations for Use of Once-Weekly Isoniazid-
Rifapentine Regimen to Treat Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Infection.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:723-726
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6725a5.htm
- Menzies D, Adjobimey M, Ruslami R et al.
Four months of rifampin or nine months of isoniazid for latent
tuberculosis in adults.
N Engl J Med 2018 Aug 2; 379:440.
PMID: 30067931PMID: 30067931
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1714283
- Diallo T, Adjobimey M, Ruslami R et al.
Safety and side effects of rifampin versus isoniazid in children.
N Engl J Med 2018 Aug 2; 379:454
PMID: 30067928
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1714284
- Sterling TR, Njie G, Zenner D, et al.
Guidelines for the Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection:
Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers
Association and CDC, 2020.
MMWR Recomm Rep 2020;69(No. RR-1):1.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/rr/rr6901a1.htm
- Kim S, Thal R, Szkwarko D.
Management of Latent Tuberculosis Infection.
JAMA. 2023;329(5):421-422
PMID: 36656598
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2800774
- Shah M, Dorman SE.
Latent Tuberculosis Infection.
N Engl J Med. 2021 Dec 9;385(24):2271-2280.
PMID: 34879450 Review.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMcp2108501
- Minnesota Department of Health
Tuberculosis (TB) Prevention and Control Program
P.O. Box 64975, St. Paul, MN 55164-0975 651-201-5414
Treatment for Latent Tuberculosis (TB) Infection: Levofloxacin.
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/tb/basics/factsheets/levoltbi.pdf