TB/HIV Working Group

No more people living with HIV, dying of TB

In an effort to catalyze implementation of those measures that reduce the burden of TB in people living with HIV, the Three Is (Intensified TB case finding, Isoniazid preventive therapy and Infection control for TB) for HIV/TB campaign was initiated.

Today, 80% of HIV-positive TB cases live in sub-Saharan Africa and TB is a leading killer of people with HIV in many parts of the world. In 2007, 456 000 HIV-positive TB patients died.

People living with HIV are 20-30 times more likely to develop TB than those without HIV. Yet in 2007, of the 33 million people estimated to be living with HIV only around 20% knew their HIV status - only 630,000 were screened for TB and only 29,000 were put on isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT).

It is essential for people living with HIV to be routinely screened for TB and either put onto preventive therapy if they do not have active disease or onto TB treatment if they are found to have active disease. People living with HIV must be aware of and increase their knowledge of TB and call on their HIV care and treatment provider to prevent, diagnose and treat TB.