Tuberculosis and HIV

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of HIV-related deaths worldwide. In some countries with higher HIV prevalence, up to 80% of people with TB test positive for HIV. Globally approximately 30% of HIV-infected persons are estimated to have latent TB infection. In 2008, there were an estimated 1.4 million new cases of TB among persons with HIV infection and TB accounted for 23% of AIDS-related deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 12 collaborative HIV/TB activities, including the Three I’s for HIV/TB (isoniazid preventive treatment [IPT], intensified case finding, and infection control for TB), which should be seen as core prevention, care, and treatment services for HIV infection. In addition to the Three I’s for HIV/TB and other HIV prevention efforts, ART offers considerable hope for prevention of both HIV infection and TB, because risk of developing TB approaches 10%–20% per annum among immunocompromised persons. Perhaps most importantly for TB control, persons receiving ART are less likely to transmit HIV.

The WHO HIV/AIDS and TB departments and their partners work collaboratively on joint HIV/TB advocacy, policy development and implementation in countries. WHO also develops and promotes tools and guidelines to support countries in improving TB/HIV collaboration as part of Universal Access to HIV and Tb prevention, care and treatment.