Introduction

Students of tuberculosis have been interested in the immune response to M. tuberculosis since the modern understanding of the clinical disease. For decades the skin test response to tuberculin (TST) was the primary tool clinicians have had for study. With the development of Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRA) the recurrent question has been which is better, the TST or an IGRA. Hundreds of papers have been written on this matter and numerous guidelines have been issued. This conference will provide a solid framework within which to assess the rapidly moving field as well as provide a basis for making clinical decisions.

Target Audience

This meeting will present basic and developing information which will be of interest to academic physicians, practicing physicians such as those who practice infectious disease, pulmonary medicine, pediatrics as well as public health physicians, dermatologists, Rheumatologists, Gastroenterologists and epidemiologists.

Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Apply up-to-date understanding of the dynamics of TB infection
• Demonstrate and understand the interactions between immune modifiers and progression of TB infection
• Employ up-to-date information and evidence-based expert advice to the management of clinical problems dealing with recent infections due to M. tuberculosis
• Demonstrate the use of IGRAs in HIV infected as well as in the face of immune modifiers
• Discuss and explain the central themes in key points of TB infection and the application of IGRA to provide a synthesis on current and emerging understanding of TB infection and risk of TB disease
• Succinctly interpret clinical applications of IGRA results

Needs Assessment

Based on a review of recently published literature, faculty comments, and audience feedback from recent CME/CE programming, the organizing faculty has identified ongoing educational needs for physicians and related healthcare professionals involved in the management of TB.

Educational gaps have been identified in the need to understand 1) the dynamics of TB infection, 2) the interactions between immune modifiers and progression of TB infection, 3) the use of IGRAs in HIV infected, in the face of immune modifiers, in HCW, 4) the use of IGRAs in public health situations such as contact studies and pediatrics settings 5) new treatment of LTBI and 6) the eradication of TB by 2050.

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