Study finds global prevalence of latent TB

A new study from Aarhus University Hospital and the University of Aarhus in Denmark has shown that probably one in four people in the world carries the TB bacteria in the body. Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, which affects more than 10 million people each year and kills up to 2 million, making it the deadliest infectious disease.

In addition, many are infected with the bacterium of tuberculosis without suffering from an active disease, called latent tuberculosis. Until now, this number has been estimated on the basis of badumptions about the number of patients who may be infected with active TB, but these badumptions are based on no empirical basis.

Danish and Swedish researchers have used a new method to describe the occurrence of latent tuberculosis infection. The researchers examined 88 scientific studies conducted in 36 different countries. On the basis of this epidemiological evidence, they also estimated a prevalence in countries where no studies were available. They also calculated the approximate global prevalence in the world.

The study points out that it will be extremely difficult to reach the goal of eliminating TB by 2035, which is the goal of the program. ; WHO. In any case, the goal can not be achieved without addressing the high incidence of latent TB, as all infected people may develop active TB later in life, says Christian Wejse, a specialist in infectious diseases. Aarhus University Hospital and Associate Professor at University of Aarhus, Denmark.

It has already been estimated that between one-third and one-quarter of people have latent TB, but the new study, based on tests conducted on 351,811 people, indicates a number between one-fifth and one-quarter, according to the test. method used. The study therefore documents a significant case of TB infection in the world today, although a little less than expected.