Management of Latent Tuberculosis Infection: A Key Step in the Direction of TB Elimination from the World

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the body without signs and symptoms, or radiographic or bacteriologic evidence of tuberculosis (TB) disease. Approximately one-third of the world's population is infected Developed countries have been successful in lowering down TB incidence by targeted testing of high risk population, whereas poor countries, whose main objective is to cut down TB transmission by primarily treating active cases, may have as much as 50 % of the population infected, making LTBI treatment practically impossible. Yet targeted testing of high risk populations may prove useful as exemplified by the successful treatment of LTBI in HIV infected individuals