Scaling Up Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment: Progress and Factors Influencing Optimization - China, 2022-2025
Xu C, Li J, Wen Y, Hu D, Yu R, Zhao Y
China CDC weekly · 2026-03
Abstract
What is already known about this topic? Tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) is critical in preventing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) progression to active tuberculosis. China has integrated TPT into national Tuberculosis (TB) control; however, systematic national data on TPT implementation in China are scarce. What is added by the report? TPT recipient number in China increased 2.5-fold (2022-2025), with around 79% using short-course regimens. Among 2,676 individuals with LTBI, TPT acceptance and completion rates were 45.14% and 85.18%, respectively. Key acceptance factors included age, ethnicity, occupation, treatment institution, immunocompromised status, and purified protein derivative results. What are the implications for public health practice? To improve TPT effectiveness, public health strategies should integrate TPT into routine clinics, promote short-course regimens, and target high-risk groups (e.g., immunocompromised individuals and the elderly) to increase acceptance rates and reduce disparities to achieve TB elimination.