Protecting the most vulnerable: tuberculosis in immunocompromised individuals

The interaction of <italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</italic> with components of the innate and acquired immune system has significant implications for the clinical outcome of infection (clearance, latency or progression to active disease). Thus, the risk of progressing from LTBI to active TB is greater in some populations. Understanding which populations are at increased risk of TBI and of TB disease is essential to understand who we should screen and treat for TBI. In the past decades, much new knowledge on epidemiology, risk factors and treatment of TBI has been gathered, which is summarised in this chapter. <bold>Cite as:</bold> Torrado E, vanCrevel R, Afonso AR, <italic>et al.</italic> Protecting the most vulnerable: tuberculosis in immunocompromised individuals. <italic>In:</italic> García-Basteiro AL, Öner Eyüboğlu F, Rangaka MX, eds. The Challenge of Tuberculosis in the 21st Century (ERS Monograph). Sheffield, European Respiratory Society, 2023; pp. 235–250 [<ext-link>https://doi.org/10.1183/2312508X.10025422</ext-link>].