Ensuring tuberculosis infection control to support greater involvement of people living with HIV in health care

Health care workers (HCWs) in high TB burden countries bear significant risks of being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and developing TB disease through their work. In recent years, an increasing number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) are taking part in delivering HIV and other health services in resource-limited settings with high TB burden. The greater involvement of PLHIV in health service delivery has many beneficial consequences on individuals and health systems, however, the involvement creates considerable opportunities for them to be exposed to patients with infectious TB disease. Due to their immunodeficiency, PLHIV are far more likely to develop active TB following the infection. Available evidence and recently revised WHO policy guidance on TB infection control suggest simple, predominantly administrative control measures are feasible and effective in reducing the infection. Nevertheless, many countries are still at the early stage of developing infection control policies. We call for evidence-based infection control measures in order to ensure a safe working environment for PLHIV in support of their greater involvement in health care. More research is needed to strengthen knowledge on TB infection risks amongst PLHIV through involvement in service delivery, and optimal interventions to reduce it.