Updated WHO guideline on preventive therapy published
The guideline on preventive therapy and the manual for this guideline were updated by the WHO and published on 09.09.2024.
The testing of people at risk for latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) and subsequent preventive therapy with a suitable combination of drugs is one of the goals set by the UN General Assembly in 2023 in the fight against tuberculosis.
The aim of the guideline update was to evaluate new study results, particularly on preventive therapy for close household contacts of MDR-TB patients, and to compare them with other WHO recommendations.
Based on the new study results of the TB-CHAMP and VQUIN study, the preliminary results of which are presented in the appendix, a new recommendation for the preventive treatment of close household contacts of MDR-TB patients was drawn up. These should now be treated preventively with levofloxacin for 6 months.
The wording of other recommendations has been adapted to other WHO recommendations, but the content has not been changed.
As the WHO recommendations are drawn up for all countries worldwide, a national assessment and, if necessary, adaptation to the respective situation in Germany is necessary. To this end, we will discuss these results with the authors of the S2k guideline on tuberculosis in adults and the S3 guideline on tuberculosis prevention in immigrants, which is currently being developed, and evaluate them for Germany.
The new WHO guideline on preventive therapy and the handbook can be found here:
