Latent TB Infection: LTBI Overview

Latent TB Infection: Guide for Diagnosis and Treatment

Overview

Introduction

LTBI Overview

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is the presence of TB bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) in the body without signs and symptoms, or radiographic or bacteriologic evidence of TB disease.

It is estimated that up to 13 million people in the United States have LTBI. While not everyone with LTBI will develop TB disease, about 5 – 10% of infected people will develop TB disease if not treated. This equates to approximately 650,000 to 1,300,000 people who will develop TB disease at some point in their life, unless they receive adequate treatment for LTBI.

Identifying and treating those at highest risk for developing TB disease will help move toward elimination of the disease. Health care providers play a key role in achieving the goal of TB elimination because of their access to high-risk populations.

The Latent TB Infection: Guide for Diagnosis and Treatment application is intended for health care providers who care for individuals and populations who may be at risk for infection with TB bacteria. The information in this guide is not meant to be used as a substitute for official guidelines, but rather as a ready and useful reference that highlights the main points of those guidelines.