Online tool could help eliminate TB in countries with low transmission

A new online tool which could help eliminate tuberculosis in countries with low transmission rates such as the UK, by identifying who is at highest risk of developing TB, has been developed by UCL researchers. The research, published today , is the largest study of its kind and pooled data from 18 previous studies and 20 countries including the UK and from across Western Europe, North America and Australia. People who have 'latent' TB may have TB bacteria in the body, but it is not active and they cannot pass it on. For the first time, the tool can provide clinicians and individuals personalised risk predictions by assessing how likely latent TB is to develop into active TB - which can be fatal. The researchers were able to look at data from over 80,000 people who were tested for latent TB and followed to see whether this then developed into active TB within five years of testing. They were then able to develop a risk predictor to calculate how high the risk of developing active tuberculosis is, based on factors such as age and previous contact with people with TB. The treatment for latent TB is currently an intensive antibiotic course for three months and the tool will help to target these antibiotics towards those who need them the most, while protecting those who are less likely to benefit from the treatment and save them from potential side effects.