This review discuses the interactions between HIV infected patients and Tuberculosis infection, the management of latent infections and active disease, new potential therapies and potential new discoveries from the genetics of Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is the most common fatal infectious disease in the world today.
Concurrent infection with HIV complicates the management and increases the mortality of both diseases. An early versus late diagnosis of TB in the HIV infected population is easier to treat and is felt to have a better survival rate. The TB infection enhances the HIV's replication rate and increases the plasma viral load. The CDC recommendations are reviewed for the prevention and treatment of TB in the HIV infected patient. Anergy panels are no longer recommended because of the high degree of variability in the results.