Scaling Up Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment: Progress and Factors Influencing Optimization — China, 2022–2025
Xu Caihong, Li Jinhao, Wen Yaxin, Hu Dongmei, Yu Rongbin, Zhao Yanlin
China CDC Weekly · 2026-01
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.
MeSH terms
- Tuberculosis
- Medicine
- Environmental health
- China
- Public health
- Purified protein derivative
- Latent tuberculosis
- Intensive care medicine