Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment Rapid Communication

In this Rapid Communication, the World Health Organization (WHO) is announcing a number of updates to its forthcoming 2nd edition of the guidance on tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT). This will help national tuberculosis (TB) programmes, public and private healthcare providers, funders and other stakeholders to prepare for the changes that will be introduced when the updated guidelines and accompanying operational handbook on TPT are released later this year. Effective TPT in people at highest risk of progression safely reduces the likelihood of developing TB disease. This includes individuals exposed to multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB). The updated guidance will avail of the latest evidence and best available practices on TPT regimens for individuals of all ages in contact with TB patients and dosing schedules. It will also incorporate current recommendations on screening strategies to rule out TB disease ahead of starting TPT, and the use of tests of TB infection.