TITLE:
Does “Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI)” Really Exist? Genealogy of a Medical Nosology
AUTHORS:
Patricia Etienne
KEYWORDS:
Tuberculin Skin Test, Latent Tuberculosis Infection, IGRA Tests, Medical History
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Tuberculosis Research,
Vol.9 No.3,
August
30,
2021
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is based on secular
ways: chest radiography and tuberculin skin test (TST). In front of a recent
enthusiasm for LTBI, this paper reports a historical perspective of this
concept. Method: Bibliometric analysis and literature review from medical databases, using the terms “latent tuberculosis
infection (“LTBI”), “primary tuberculosis”, “tuberculin skin test”, “tuberculosis”,
and from reference books on tuberculosis. Results: In the PubMED/MEDLINE
search for LTBI, a total of 7787 articles were found between 1901 and 2020, 95% from 2000 to 2020. In the first part of the 20th century, LTBI term
was used for sub-clinical tuberculosis
disease, the latency being also called “primary
tuberculosis” or “abortive tuberculosis infection”. From 1960, randomized prospective therapeutic studies mentioned “tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis”. By the end of the 20th century, the epidemic of AIDS impeded tuberculosis decrease, making LTBI search more efficient. In 2000, the American Thoracic Society and the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention proposed the systematic used of LTBI, relayed
through public health policies. A significant higher scientific production about LTBI was noted, supported by
IGRA tests commercialization. Conclusion: In the recent years, health public policies, combined with epidemiologic
and economic factors, strengthened the use of LTBI terminology.