Reducing tuberculosis transmission: a consensus document from the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe

Evidence-based guidance is needed on 1) how tuberculosis (TB) infectiousness evolves in response to effective treatment and 2) how the TB infection risk can be minimised to help countries to implement community-based, outpatient-based care. This document aims to 1) review the available evidence on how quickly TB infectiousness responds to effective treatment (and which factors can lower or boost infectiousness), 2) review policy options on the infectiousness of TB patients relevant to the World Health Organization European Region, 3) define limitations of the available evidence and 4) provide recommendations for further research. The consensus document aims to target all professionals dealing with TB (e.g. TB specialists, pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists, primary healthcare professionals, and other clinical and public health professionals), as well as health staff working in settings where TB infection is prevalent.