The Global Burden of Latent Tuberculosis Infection: A Re-estimation Using Mathematical Modelling

20162,030 citationsReviewgold Open Access

Authors

Rein M G J Houben · University of London

Abstract

We estimate that approximately 1.7 billion individuals were latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) globally in 2014, just under a quarter of the global population. Investment in new tools to improve diagnosis and treatment of those with LTBI at risk of progressing to disease is urgently needed to address this latent reservoir if the 2050 target of eliminating TB is to be reached.

Topics & Keywords

Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good health and well-being

Publication Details

Published in: PLoS Medicine

Volume 13, Issue 10, pp. e1002152-e1002152

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002152

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 103.14