Latent tuberculosis infection: recent progress and challenges in South Korea

Abstract

Management of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a critical element in the elimination of tuberculosis (TB). However, the low positive predictive value of the current diagnostic tests and the low acceptance and completion rate of the isoniazid- based regimen are major barriers to the implementation and scale-up of programmatic management of LTBI. In the past decade, there has been some progress in the conception, diagnosis, and treatment of LTBI. LTBI is now understood as a dynamic spectrum rather than the traditional binary distinction between active and latent TB. New insight into LTBI has led to a renewed interest in incipient TB, which would be a potential target for developing new diagnostics and therapeutics of LTBI. Recent studies showed that host transcriptomic signatures could be a potential biomarker for incipient TB. The new shorter rifamycin-based regimens have shown comparable efficacy, but better completion rate and safety compared to the isoniazid-based regimen. In South Korea, LTBI management has been expanded and integrated into key elements of the National Tuberculosis Control Program. For the programmatic approach to LTBI management, the following challenges need to be addressed; target group selection, treatment-related interventions, monitoring and surveillance system, and extending the plan for vulnerable groups.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Latent tuberculosis; Tuberculosis.

Figure 1.

Trend in the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in South Korea. This figure was drawn based on the references [34-36]. LTBI, latent tuberculosis infection. ^a 6.5% and 10.9% in the ages 10–19 and 20–29, respectively.

Figure 2.

Trends in age-specific cases of new tuberculosis in South Korea from the years 2001 to 2018. Adopted from Lee [49], according to Creative Commons License.