Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TPT) is a vital intervention designed to prevent the development of active TB among high-risk individuals, particularly People Living with HIV (PLHIV). By administering specific TB medications to individuals who do not yet have active TB but are at risk, TPT significantly reduces TB-related illness and deaths.

To promote access to TPT, the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) conducted a study analysing routine TPT programme data from selected primary health facilities in Zambia. The retrospective study examined the incidence and predictors of breakthrough TB, cases where TB developed despite undergoing preventive therapy, among PLHIV enrolled in TPT.

Findings revealed that TB cases occurring while a person is on TPT are uncommon among PLHIV who are also on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). Furthermore, such cases are even rarer after the first month of TPT initiation. These results reinforce the importance of expanding TPT access to improve TB prevention efforts. Read more: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9716823/