Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI): Scaling up programmatic management of LTBI, a critical action to achieve the WHO End TB Strategy targets

- Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a state of persistent immune response to stimulation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens without evidence of clinically manifested active TB.
- About one-third of the world's population has latent TB, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the disease and cannot transmit the disease.
- Persons with LTBI do not have active TB disease but may develop it in the near or in the remote future, a process called TB reactivation.
- It is critical to prevent the development of active disease by providing preventive treatment to those who are at high risk.