Primary prevention
The bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that is used in many parts of the world. BCG vaccination is effective in prevention of TB meningitis and disseminated TB in infants and young children.[26] BCG may offer protection against latent TB infection and pulmonary TB.[27][28] It is no longer routinely offered. In the UK, BCG vaccination is offered to newborn babies who have a parent or grandparent who was born in a country where the yearly incidence of TB is 40 per 100,000 or greater; and/or newborn babies living in areas of the UK where the yearly incidence of TB is 40 per 100,000 or greater.[29] The World Health Organization recommends that a single dose of BCG vaccine should be given to neonates at birth, or as soon as possible afterwards, in countries or settings with a high incidence of TB and/or leprosy.[30]
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that travellers from the US who anticipate prolonged exposure to TB or are planning prolonged stays in TB-endemic countries should have pre- and post-travel testing.[31][32]
Active TB, confirmed or highly suspected, is a reportable condition to the local health authorities in order to interrupt further TB transmission in the community.
Secondary prevention
Because of the infectious nature of the condition, patients should avoid new encounters with people who are not household members while they are infectious. Household members should be promptly evaluated and treated if appropriate. The patient may need to be isolated in the short term. After approximately 2 weeks of effective TB treatment, the patient is less infectious to others
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