Webinar - Preventive Treatment of Tuberculosis to move toward elimination

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health problem. In 2022, WHO estimates that there will be 325 000 cases of TB in the Region, of which only 242 000 have been reported, leaving a significant diagnostic gap of 83 000 people with TB who do not have access to timely diagnosis and treatment. To close this gap and accelerate TB elimination efforts, a paradigm shift in the response is needed, prioritizing the active cases finding and treatment of TB and TB infection, which will allow us to stay one step ahead of the epidemic.   

TB preventive treatment (TPT) is considered one of the most important public health interventions to protect individuals and communities from TB. TPT is effective in reducing the incidence and mortality of TB disease. WHO-recommended regimens reduce the risk of disease progression by 60-90%, depending on the regimen prescribed. By reducing the number of people who develop active disease, preventive treatment also reduces the risk of drug-resistant TB. 

In March 2024, the WHO published the results of the feasibility study on investment in screening and preventive treatment of tuberculosis, prepared in collaboration with four countries, including Brazil, which showed that the application of screening and preventive treatment TPT can substantially reduce the incidence and mortality of this disease, and that modest investments could provide significant health and economic benefits, with a return on investment of up to $39 for every dollar invested. 

In this virtual session, we propose to present the current situation of TPT in the region of the Americas, the reason why it should be administered and its impact on the TB epidemic; the current WHO recommendations for the programmatic approach, the population groups that would benefit from TPT, the new shortened schemes currently available and the investment study that was conducted with several countries, in the case of our region with Brazil; to finally close the session with the presentation of two country experiences in the search for contacts and administration of TPT.  

• TPT situation in the region, Pedro Avedillo, Regional TB prevention and elimination advisor, PAHO. WDC

• TPT Recommendations Update, population groups, shortened PTT schedules , programmatic approach, M&E, PrevenTB, Dennis Falzon, Global TB Programme, WHO

• Testing for TB infection, Charlie Nathanson, Global TB Programme, WHO

• Experience with contact screening and TPT: PNT Brazil and PNT Uruguay.