Latent tuberculosis infection screening in persons newly-diagnosed with HIV infection in Italy: A multicentre study promoted by the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases

Background The Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases performed a survey on the application of guidelines for the management of persons living with HIV (PLWH), to evaluate current practice and the yield of screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in newly-diagnosed PLWH; in addition, the offer of preventive therapy to LTBI individuals and the completion rate were analysed. Materials and methods Newly-diagnosed PLWH in nine centres were evaluated retrospectively (2016/2017) using binary and multinomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with LTBI diagnostic screening and QuantiFERON (QFT) results. Results Of 801 patients evaluated, 774 were studied after excluding active TB. LTBI tests were performed in 65.5%. Prescription of an LTBI test was associated with being foreign-born (odds ratio (OR) 3.19, p 3 vs ≥500 cells/mm 3 (OR 2.30, p = 0.044). LTBI was diagnosed in 6.5% of 495 patients evaluated by QFT. Positive results were associated with being foreign-born (relative risk ratio (RRR) 30.82, p 3 increments, RRR 1.26, p Conclusions LTBI screening is inconsistently performed in newly-diagnosed PLWH. Furthermore, TB preventive therapy is not offered to all LTBI individuals and compliance is poor.