Treatment FAQ

what parameters determine whether treatment is initiated for ltbi

by Ms. Jessyca Crona PhD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

All screened persons found to have LTBI should be offered treatment, regardless of age. Before initiating treatment, active tuberculosis must be ruled out by patient history, physical examination, and chest radiography. The treatment of choice for LTBI is isoniazid for nine months.

Persons with no known risk factors for TB may be considered for treatment of LTBI if they have either a positive IGRA result or if their reaction to the TST is 15 mm or larger. However, targeted TB testing programs should only be conducted among high-risk groups.

Full Answer

How is latent TB infection (LTBI) treated in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases?

All testing activities should be accompanied by a plan for follow-up care for persons with latent TB infection or disease. As of 2018, there are four CDC-recommended treatment regimens for latent TB infection that use isoniazid (INH), rifapentine (RPT), and/or rifampin (RIF). All the regimens are effective. Healthcare providers should prescribe ...

When to start anti-TNF therapy after LTBI?

Nov 25, 2017 · Treatment of LTBI should be initiated after the possibility of TB disease has been excluded . 12. According to the most current CDC guidelines, what constitutes usual preventive therapy for LTBI? Adhere to taking medication as prescribed for LTBI to prevent full blown TB. To avoid full-blown TB, take your LTBI medicine exactly as directed.

What is the typical LTBI treatment regimen?

Jun 28, 2014 · Abstract. Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are increasingly being treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents and are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) is recommended in these patients due to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy.

Can Igra detect LTBI in patients with IMiDs?

Feb 03, 2021 · Latent Tuberculosis Infection: A Guide for Primary Health Care Providers is intended for primary care providers who care for individuals and populations who may be at risk for infection with M. tuberculosis.. The guide includes latent TB infection diagnosis and treatment information, sample documentation forms, and additional resources.

What is the treatment for LTBI?

Isoniazid and Rifapentine (INH-RPT) are medicines used together to treat LTBI. They kill the sleeping TB germs before they make you sick. It can take many months for the medicine to kill the TB germs because they are strong.

What test results correlate with LTBI?

The most commonly used tests for LTBI diagnosis are the intradermal tuberculin test (TST) and IGRA. The TST was developed more than a 100 years ago by Robert Koch, also known as “old tuberculin,” or Mantoux test after Charles Mantoux established the diagnosis criteria for reading a TST (13).Sep 10, 2020

What are the guideline for treatment of tuberculosis?

The below areas are covered by separate guidelines The standard TB treatment regimen is 6 months of combination therapy. Use of both rifampicin and pyrazinamide in the regimen are key pre-requisites to enable a six-month duration. Never add a single drug to a failing regimen. Dosing is weight based (mg/kg).

How can clinicians determine whether a patient is responding to treatment?

Monitoring response to treatment is done through regular history taking, physical examination, chest radiograph and laboratory monitoring. The classic symptoms of TB – cough, sputum production, fever and weight loss – generally improve within the first few weeks.

Which of these methods are used to identify prior exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Traditionally, the tuberculin skin test (TST) has served as the standard of care for the identification of prior exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB).Jan 1, 2011

Which of the following diagnostic tests is intended for latent tuberculosis infection?

Which of the following diagnostics tests is intended for latent tuberculosis infection? The correct answer is (c). Interferon-gamma release assays (e.g., TB Gold) are meant for the diagnosis of latent TB infection.

WHO TB preventive therapy guidelines?

The standard regimen for TB preventive therapy is: Adults: Isoniazid (INH) 5 mg/kg/day (maximum 300 mg per day). Children: Isoniazid (INH) 10 mg/kg/day (maximum 300 mg per day). Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 25 mg per day should be given concomitantly with isoniazid to prevent the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy.

When does TB treatment start?

Treatment of latent TB infection should start after excluding the possibility of TB disease. Groups Who Should be Given High Priority for Latent TB Infection Treatment include: People with a positive TB blood test (interferon-gamma release assay or IGRA).

WHO TB treatment categories?

The standardized regimens for anti-TB treatment recommended by WHO include five essential medicines designated as “first line”: isoniazid (H), rifampicin (R), pyrazinamide (Z), ethambutol (E) and streptomycin (S).

How can clinicians determine whether a patient is responding to treatment TB?

Patient Medical Evaluation Treating TB disease with an LTBI treatment regimen can lead to drug resistance (see the Preventing Drug Resistance section in this Module). To rule out TB disease, clinicians should determine whether the patient has symptoms of TB disease and evaluate the patient with a chest x-ray.

What does it mean to be responding to treatment?

noun A generic term for a warning call, alarm, or message which addresses concerns where urgent action may be needed to be provided by a health and social care.

What ethical principles and standards are used to help guide medical decision making for unrepresented patients?

Consistency as an Ethical Value in Decision Making Decision makers for unrepresented patients should strive for consistency in treating like cases alike, consider a patient's interests as fully as possible, and attempt to prevent personal or organizational sources of biases from unjustly influencing decisions.

What is the name of the drug that is used to treat TB?

Isoniazid (INH) Rifapentine (RPT) Rifampin (RIF) These medications are used on their own or in combination, as shown in the table below. CDC and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA) preferentially recommend short-course, rifamycin-based, 3- or 4-month latent TB infection treatment regimens over 6- or 9-month isoniazid ...

What should a clinic decide on TB treatment?

Clinicians should choose the appropriate treatment regimen based on drug susceptibility results of the presumed source case (if known), coexisting medical conditions (e.g., HIV. ), and potential for drug-drug interactions. Consultation with a TB expert is advised if the known source of TB infection has drug-resistant TB.

Is 3HP a short course?

Short-course treatment regimens, like 3HP and 4R, are effective, safe, and have higher completion rates than longer 6 to 9 months of isoniazid monotherapy (6H/9H). Shorter, rifamycin-based treatment regimens generally have a lower risk of hepatotoxicity than 6H and 9H.

Is 6H or 9H better for TB?

Although effective, 6H and 9H have higher toxicity risk and lower treatment completion rates than most short-term treatment regimens. All treatment must be modified if the patient is a contact of an individual with drug-resistant TB disease.

What percentage of people with LTBI are at risk of progressing to active disease?

Because 5 to 10 percent of persons with LTBI are at risk of progressing to active disease, identification and treatment of LTBI are essential for the elimination of tuberculosis.

What does LTBI mean?

LTBI = latent tuberculosis infection. Information from references 7, 11, and 12. In contrast to LTBI, which is asymptomatic, typical symptoms of active pulmonary tuberculosis include fever or night sweats, weight loss, cough, and chest pain. The patient may appear well or chronically ill.

What is LTBI in medical terms?

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a condition in which a person is infected with M. tuberculosis, but does not currently have active tuberculosis disease. The 10 to 15 million Americans with LTBI are asymptomatic and not infectious, but are at risk of progression to active disease. 7 Because of this risk, ...

How long does it take to treat LTBI?

The treatment of choice for LTBI is isoniazid for nine months. Hepatotoxicity is the most severe adverse effect.

Can I take rifadin for LTBI?

Rifampin (Rifadin) for four months is an acceptable alternative to INH for LTBI treatment. 14, 24 It can be used in children if INH is not tolerated or if the child was in contact with an INH-resistant, rifampin-susceptible organism.

What is considered a high risk racial or ethnic minority?

High-risk racial and ethnic minorities, as defined locally. Persons who have close contact with someone known or suspected to have active tuberculosis. Residents and employees of congregate living facilities, including prisons and jails, nursing homes, hospitals, and homeless shelters.

Does TST reactivity wane?

Information from references 16 and 17. Similarly, TST reactivity may also wane after natural mycobacterial infection. A patient's first TST may produce no induration, but the immune system is “boosted” and the next administration of TST causes a reaction.

What happens after a microbe is isolated?

After the microbe is isolated, its susceptibility to specific antibiotics, or its sensitivity of the microbe to drugs, is determined. If required, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy is prescribed until the C&S results are available and a more suitable antibiotic can be identified and prescribed. 7 .

How to help dyspnea patients?

Relaxation: Anxiety can increase the patient's sense of dyspnea; try controlled relaxation breathing exercises and/or biofeedback. You may need to ask the provider for an anxiolytic.

What is the purpose of an audiogram for hearing loss?

An audiogram is used as a diagnostic test for determining the degree and type of hearing loss and would be used to detect hearing neuritis. 14.

How much alcohol does B.A. smoke?

B .A. consumes 3 to 4 ounces of alcohol (ETOH) per day and has smoked 1.5 packs of cigarettes per day for 40 years. She is a natural-born American, has no risk factors according to the CDC guidelines, lives with her daughter, and becomes angry at the suggestion that she might have TB.

What is a B.A. in nursing?

You are a public health nurse working at a county immunization and tuberculosis (TB) clinic. B.A. is a 61-year-old woman who wishes to obtain a food handler's license and is required to show proof of a neg- ative Mantoux (purified protein derivative [PPD]) test before being hired.

Does azithromycin cause hepatotoxicity?

Because hepatotoxicity is a common adverse effect associated with the use of azithromycin; the nurse must monitor the results of liver function studies. Use of azithromycin is also associated with the potential for nephrotoxicity, as well as drug-induced diarrhea.

Can LTBI spread to others?

Persons with LTBI are not infectious and cannot spread TB infection to others. Overall, about 5% to 10% of patients with latent disease will develop active TB disease at some time in their lives. About half of those people who develop active TB will do so within the first 2 years of infection.

Epidemiology

  • As the number of tuberculosis cases decreases, primary care physicians become less aware of high-risk patients and are less likely to consider tuberculosis in their differential diagnosis.8 Groups at high risk of infection include employees of long-term care facilities, hospitals, clinics, and medical laboratories; foreign-born persons from countries with a high prevalence of tubercu
See more on aafp.org

Signs and symptoms

  • In contrast to LTBI, which is asymptomatic, typical symptoms of active pulmonary tuberculosis include fever or night sweats, weight loss, cough, and chest pain. The patient may appear well or chronically ill. Physical examination may reveal rales, wheezes, rhonchi, or signs of pleural effusion. In addition to the signs, symptoms, and risk factors for tuberculosis, pulmonary infiltrat…
See more on aafp.org

Overview

  • The targeted tuberculin skin test (TST), also called the Mantoux test, is the most accepted method of LTBI screening.14 A 0.1 mL (5 tuberculin units) intradermal injection of purified protein derivative is placed on the forearm, most commonly the volar surface. This raises an initial wheal of 6 to 10 mm in diameter. Reaction size is determined after 48 to 72 hours, although positive re…
See more on aafp.org

Pathophysiology

  • The TST induces a delayed hypersensitivity reaction that is detectable two to 12 weeks after infection with M. tuberculosis. Criteria for a positive reaction depend on the patient's health status and tuberculosis risk (Table 212,14,16). Patients in higher-risk groups require smaller reaction wheals to increase test sensitivity.15
See more on aafp.org

Prevention

  • Rates of false-negative TST results are as high as 10 to 20 percent in patients with proven M. tuberculosis infection and no apparent immunocompromising conditions.12,15 Anergy testing is not recommended for persons with HIV infection because of variations in response over time, or for other patients because of insufficient evidence to support such testing.15 There are many co…
See more on aafp.org

Results

  • Similarly, TST reactivity may also wane after natural mycobacterial infection. A patient's first TST may produce no induration, but the immune system is boosted and the next administration of TST causes a reaction. For health care workers and other persons tested annually, follow-up annual TST will be interpreted as positive, wrongly indicating recent tuberculosis infection. To establish …
See more on aafp.org

Research

  • New tests are being developed for LTBI screening, the most promising of which are in vitro interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs). These in vitro blood tests evaluate T-lymphocyte responses to M. tuberculosisspecific antigens, such as early secretory antigenic target-6 and culture filtrate protein-10. These proteins are absent from the BCG vaccine strains and from co…
See more on aafp.org

Availability

  • The QuantiFeron-TB Gold test is the only IGRA that is approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration and commercially available in the United States. The CDC released guidelines in 2005 stating that the QuantiFeron-TB Gold test may be used wherever TST is currently used.19 The test is commercially available to tuberculosis control programs and institutions. Individual p…
See more on aafp.org

Health

  • IGRAs avoid the subjective nature of placing and interpreting TSTs and are less affected by previous BCG vaccinations.18,20 They also differentiate nontuberculosis reactions and obviate two-step tuberculin testing associated with boosting effects.18,19 IGRAs are labor intensive, however, and there is a 12-hour time limit from blood draw to receipt in a qualified laboratory an…
See more on aafp.org

Diagnosis

  • The limiting factor for IGRA use is that epidemiologic determination of sensitivity and specificity has not been completed, especially for high-risk tuberculosis groups, such as children, immunocompromised persons, and persons who were recently exposed to active tuberculosis.19 Risk-stratified cutoffs to determine a positive test result and clinical trials to evaluate patient-ori…
See more on aafp.org

Treatment

  • All screened persons found to have LTBI should be offered treatment, regardless of age and BCG vaccination status. Before initiating treatment, active tuberculosis must be ruled out by patient history, physical examination, and chest radiography. Figure 2 provides a screening and treatment algorithm for LTBI.8,14,15,19 If a patient has had recent close contact with a person with active …
See more on aafp.org

Contraindications

  • Peripheral neuropathy is a common adverse effect of INH therapy because INH interferes with pyridoxine metabolism. In symptomatic patients, pregnant women, persons with seizure disorders, and persons with conditions where neuropathy is common (e.g., diabetes, malnutrition, alcoholism, HIV), pyridoxine supplementation at a dose of 10 to 50 mg daily is advised. Routine …
See more on aafp.org

Risks

  • Finally, the emergence and spread of MDR-TB poses a worldwide threat to tuberculosis control. No randomized controlled trials have assessed the effectiveness of LTBI treatment in patients exposed to MDR-TB, so the balance of risks and benefits of treatment remains unclear.
See more on aafp.org

Resources

  • 1. Dye C, Scheele S, Dolin P, Pathania V, Raviglione MC. Consensus statement. Global burden of tuberculosis: estimated incidence, prevalence, and mortality by country. WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring Project. JAMA. 1999;282(7):677686....
See more on aafp.org

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9