LTBI
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | Latent tuberculosis infection |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
LTBI stands for Latent tuberculosis infection, an infectious disease abbreviation.
Infection with TB bacteria that the immune system holds in check, producing no symptoms and no spread to others. Roughly a quarter of the world's population has it; without treatment about 5–10 percent will develop active TB, risk being highest in the first two years and with weakened immunity.
Example: Positive IGRA, normal chest X-ray, no symptoms: LTBI, start 3HP once weekly for 12 weeks.
Usage notes
Short rifamycin-based regimens are preferred: 3HP (12 weekly doses of isoniazid and rifapentine), 4R (four months of daily rifampin) or 3HR. Active TB must be excluded before treatment, usually with a chest X-ray. Many guidelines now describe "TB infection" rather than latent TB, to stress that it can progress.
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- IGRA – Interferon-gamma release assay
- IIV – Inactivated influenza vaccine
- ILI – Influenza-like illness
- IRIS – Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome
- KS – Kaposi sarcoma
- LAIV – Live attenuated influenza vaccine
- MAC – Mycobacterium avium complex
- MDR-TB – Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
- MDRO – Multidrug-resistant organism
- MERS – Middle East respiratory syndrome
- MIC – Minimum inhibitory concentration
- MRSA – Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.