State of the Science on Tuberculosis

This session will feature presentations on recent innovations that have the potential to transform how TB is diagnosed and treated.

TB in humans has a spectrum of phenotypes, from asymptomatic infection to subclinical and mild disease through to severe active TB disease. Historically, across the continuum of the infection and disease, our tools have dichotomized the status of a patient infected with M.tb as having latent infection or active disease. Two presentations will share the latest developments in TB science that challenge this traditional dichotomy and provide information on how the existence of a spectrum can be harnessed in public health. The first presentation will discuss the spectrum of TB immunology and the emergence of novel biomarkers for TB diagnosis and response to treatment and then consider vaccines and tools that predict progression to active TB. The second presentation will explore the evidence base behind and potential applications of stratified medicine principles for treatment of TB and then delineate how patient-centered approaches to defining shorter treatment regimens and for improving cure rates are feasible. A concept trial protocol under consideration by the CDC TB Trials Consortium will be presented for discussion.

NTCA, in partnership with the University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine Office for Continuous Professional Learning, is able to provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, for the live internet activity, and enduring materials credit, for this virtual TB conference.

NTCA, in partnership with Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, is able to provide continuing education credits for this live internet activity, and enduring materials credit, for this virtual TB conference.