TB/HIV Webinar Series: Diagnostic innovations for the early detection of tuberculosis in people with HIV

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be one of the leading causes of disease and death from infectious disease in the Region of the Americas, particularly among people living with HIV. In 2024, it was estimated that around 350,000 people fell ill with TB and approximately 30,000 died from this cause in the region. Of these deaths, about 29% were associated with TB/HIV co-infection, reflecting the persistent vulnerability of people with HIV to TB and the urgent need to strengthen integrated, timely and people-centred interventions.

Despite progress in expanding antiretroviral treatment and TB control, late diagnosis remains one of the main barriers to reducing mortality associated with TB/HIV co-infection. Many people with HIV have atypical clinical forms of TB, extrapulmonary disease, or paucibacillary manifestations, making timely diagnosis by conventional methods difficult.

In recent years, countries in the region have made progress in incorporating new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, including the use of AI-assisted digital radiology, rapid molecular tests, lateral immunochromatography test to detect urine lipoarabinomannan antigen (ICL-LAM) for people with HIV, nPOC, and shorter and more effective treatment and prevention schemes. However, significant gaps persist in timely access to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. An estimated 77,000 people with TB were undiagnosed in 2024, contributing to continued transmission of the disease and increased mortality, especially among people with HIV and other vulnerable populations.

However, significant challenges remain related to programmatic implementation, equitable access, integration of TB and HIV services, training of health personnel, and the appropriate use of diagnostic algorithms. In this context, it will develop the series of virtual meetings "TB/HIV co-infection: Challenges and challenges to reduce mortality", with the purpose of generating a space for technical exchange among the countries of the Region of the Americas to share experiences, discuss operational and programmatic challenges, and identify priority actions that contribute to accelerating the reduction of TB/HIV mortality.

This regional webinar aims to share updated recommendations, review successful implementation experiences and promote technical exchange between countries to strengthen the early diagnosis of TB in people with HIV. 

TB/HIV Webinar Series: Scaling Up TB Preventive Treatment in People with HIV: Experiences and Programmatic Challenges