The treatment of acute TB has been the main clinical focus for the past several decades.
Researchers estimate more than 18,000 excess TB cases in the United States are attributable to racial/ethnic disparities.
The 9,615 TB cases reported in 2023 represent a 16% increase from 2022.
The excess deaths are attributed to pandemic-related disruptions to TB services, which resulted in more people with undiagnosed and untreated TB.
The trial will evaluate whether the adjuvanted subunit vaccine M72/AS01E protects adolescents and adults from progressing from latent TB to active pulmonary TB.
Increased investment in TB control and prevention has helped reduce incidence in young people, but incidence of drug-resistant TB is rising.
Since persistent cough is one of the primary symptoms that sets off the diagnostic process for TB, the findings suggest many patients could receive delayed diagnosis and treatment.
The updated guidelines will be released later this year.
The authors said Mycobacterium bovis continues to spread from deer to humans and cattle and poses a particular risk to people with weakened immune systems.
Interviews with national TB program managers indicate nearly 80% of patients with DR-TB will have access to shorter, all-oral regimens by 2026.
