Prevention of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients

The pandemic of HIV infection has contributed to a significant increase in tuberculosis rates worldwide. Tuberculosis is one of the most common opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients, and the leading cause of death. In order to control tuberculosis in areas with high rates of co-infection, strategies must be developed to prevent tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals.

Recent reviews have highlighted the burden of HIV-related tuberculosis in the world and the necessary steps that must be taken to control tuberculosis in certain high-risk regions like sub-Saharan Africa. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently published guidelines for the use of the diagnostic test QuantiFERON-TB Gold, and cautioned about interpretation of this test in HIV-infected patients because of a lack of information regarding performance in these individuals. Perhaps the most significant studies over the past year have reported the impact that treating HIV infection can have on the risk of tuberculosis.

HIV and tuberculosis continue to be linked in a global pandemic. In addition to the standard approaches to tuberculosis control, such as the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis infection, recent studies have demonstrated that treatment of HIV itself may also have a role in tuberculosis control.