title: Screening and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Among Patients Receiving Biologic Agents: A National and International Survey of Rheumatologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to understand the current practice patterns of both US and international members of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in this regard.
  
  
  METHODS
  A set of questionnaires developed by a focus group of faculties and fellows of the Rheumatology Division of University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, was sent electronically using an online survey tool to 4433 rheumatologists who are ACR members in the United States and internationally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven hundred sixty-eight physicians out of 4433 ACR members responded to the electronic survey, with a response rate of 17.32%. The preferred screening method by most of the respondents was either tuberculin skin test (19%) or interferon γ release assay (32%) or both. For treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) overall, 49% of the respondents would refer management to infectious disease specialist or the health department, 37% would initiate isoniazid for 9 or 12 months, and 14% would use isoniazid for 6 months. Approximately 60% of respondents would initiate anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy after being on LTBI treatment for 1 month. The other respondents were almost equally divided among the 3 responses: 2, 3, 6, or 9 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a large disagreement regarding the method used and how often to screen for LTBI after initiating biologic therapy and how soon biologic treatment would be started after initiating LTBI therapy. Another disagreement exists regarding the duration of LTBI therapy. The information obtained from the survey can be taken into account when ACR or other international member organizations formulate future recommendations regarding screening and treatment of LTBI.
authors.affiliation: From the *Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; †Memorial Hospital, Chattanooga; and ‡Division of Rheumatology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN; and §Georgia Regents University, Augusta GA.
authors.forename: Nhu Quynh
authors.initials: NQ
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia-Rosell
authors.forename: Debendra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pattanaik
authors.forename: Syed Hasan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carbone
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests / Q000379:methods*; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000592:standards; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D007538:Isoniazid