TB Infection

• It is a state of persistent immune response to stimulation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens with no evidence of clinically manifested active TB.

• There is no single acceptable/reliable test for direct identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in humans. Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) e.g. CyTB and Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) are commonly used tests for identifying TB infection.

• The vast majority of infected people may never develop TB disease. However, to achieve TB elimination, it is important to treat TB infection in people at risk of developing active TB disease.

Resources:

• Guideline for Programmatic Management of Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment in India