Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 26: Screening for both active and dormant tuberculosis (TB) infection at the same time can significantly improve detection rates and lead to better health outcomes, according to a new study. The strategy, proposed by researchers led by Queen Mary University of London, aims to reduce infection rates and potentially save lives by addressing flaws in current TB screening methods, which do not always reliably detect the disease.
"Global TB control requires early identification and treatment of TB in risk groups. Our novel screening algorithms show that screening for active and dormant TB can be done simultaneously with high accuracy for migrants from countries where TB is common to improve individual and population benefits," said Dr. Dominik Zenner, Clinical Reader in Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Queen Mary University of London.
The researchers, whose findings were published in the European Respiratory Journal, hope that the new approach will influence global health organisations and key policymakers to adopt more effective TB screening strategies.
Tuberculosis remains the deadliest infectious disease worldwide, with 10.8 million new cases and 1.25 million deaths recorded in 2023. TB infection can stay dormant in the body for years without symptoms but may later become active, particularly in high-risk individuals. Therefore, accurately testing for both active and dormant forms is crucial in any effective screening programme.
In the study, the team analysed data from 13 different TB tests described in 437 original studies and published systematic reviews. These data were used to assess the tests’ ability to correctly identify TB cases while minimising false positives.
Researchers found that incorporating certain immunological tests designed for dormant TB infection (TBI tests) added significant value to TB screening algorithms. TBI tests also supported earlier diagnosis of hard-to-detect forms of TB, including extrapulmonary TB, which affects areas outside the lungs, and TB in children.
The study challenges traditional protocols that reserve TBI tests only for diagnosing dormant infections, proposing instead that these tests should be integrated into broader TB detection efforts for better outcomes.