Policies and practices on the programmatic management of latent tuberculous infection: global survey

Abstract

Setting: Global survey among low tuberculosis (TB) burden countries, which are primary target countries for the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the programmatic management of latent tuberculous infection (LTBI).

Objective: To perform a baseline assessment of policies and practices for the programmatic management of LTBI.

Design: Online and paper-based pre-tested questionnaire filled out by national TB programme managers or their equivalents from 108 countries.

Results: Of 74 respondent countries, 75.7% (56/74) had a national policy on LTBI. The majority of the countries (67/74, 90.5%) provided LTBI testing and treatment for child contacts of TB cases, while almost two thirds (49/74, 66%) reported provision of LTBI testing and treatment to people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). Six countries (8.1%) did not report providing LTBI management to child contacts and PLHIV. Among countries that reported both the availability of policy and practice of testing and treatment of LTBI for at-risk populations, a system for recording and reporting data was available in 62% (33/53) for child contacts and in 53% (21/40) for PLHIV.

Conclusion: Countries need to ensure that national LTBI policies and a standardised monitoring and evaluation system are in place to promote the programmatic management of LTBI.