WHO releases updated guidelines on TB preventive treatment

09 September 2024 | Geneva — The World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Tuberculosis Programme has released updated guidelines on TB preventive treatment (TPT), featuring one new strong recommendation on levofloxacin daily for 6 months as an option for TPT among individuals exposed to multidrug- and rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB). It also incorporates relevant recommendations released by WHO since the publication of the previously released WHO TPT guidelines in 2020. The guidelines also streamline other recommendations with the aim of enhancing clarity and adoption by national programmes.

In support of the TPT guidelines, WHO has also updated the operational handbook on TPT that lays down key implementation considerations and steps in the programmatic scaling up of TPT, provides implementation tools and job-aids for adaptation to local contexts and indicators for monitoring and evaluating programmatic management of TPT. The schedule of drug dosages for TPT regimens has been revised based on the latest evidence. The handbook also showcases best practice examples from countries and stakeholders.

“It is our constant endeavor to rapidly review evidence as it becomes available and promptly issue evidence-based guidance to Member States,” said Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme. “Recent trial data addressed an important knowledge gap on the treatment of TB infection in those exposed to MDR/RR-TB. The updated TPT guidelines and the accompanying handbook provide countries, partners, and donors an opportunity to promote access to all the new tools and preventive treatment options to populations who need them most”.

The updated edition of the TPT guidelines and the associated handbook will be also published on the WHO TB Knowledge Sharing Platform to replace the earlier versions.

For more TB updates, check out the TB CAB Weekly Newsletter (#1, 10 September 2024).

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