TB Prevention, Treatment Should Be Integrated Into HIV Treatment Programs, JAMA Study Says

Tuberculosis prevention and treatment activities should be integrated into HIV treatment programs in resource-limited settings where TB mortality is widespread and where multi-drug resistant TB is emerging to reduce deaths among people living with HIV/TB coinfection, according to a study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Xinhuanet reports. The study proposes that increased efforts should be made to identify TB cases in HIV clinics. HIV-positive people and those living with them should regularly be screened for TB, the study says. The study authors also recommend that all HIV-positive people who do not have TB receive the antibiotic isoniazid to help prevent TB infection. Physicians also should consider administering antiretroviral drugs to HIV-positive people at earlier stages of the... [read full story]