PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - L Maynard-Smith
AU  - B Fernando
AU  - S Hopkins
AU  - M Harber
AU  - M Lipman
TI  - Managing latent tuberculosis in UK renal transplant units: how does practice compare with published guidance?
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-1-26
DP  - 2014 Feb 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 26--29
VI  - 14
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/14/1/26.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/14/1/26.full
SO  - Clin Med2014 Feb 01; 14
AB  - Renal transplantation significantly increases the risk of active tuberculosis (TB) in individuals with latent TB infection (LTBI). UK transplant recipients are often born in TB endemic areas. Using a self-completed questionnaire, we evaluated how the 23 UK renal transplant units’ LTBI management compared with recently published national guidance. Three-quarters had a management protocol, but only one-third of these were in line with the guidance. Interferon-gamma release assays were rarely used to confirm LTBI. Almost half of the units prescribed LTBI treatment at the wrong dose or duration. We conclude that units should develop local protocols in line with evidence-based guidance. This must be in a format that enables national audit programmes and quality improvement to be routinely performed.