Jayhawk Infectious Diseases

Tuberculosis (TB) has reclaimed its position as the world’s leading infectious disease killer, causing approximately 1.25 million deaths in 2023, after COVID‑19 mortality declined with widespread vaccination. The burden of TB remains heavily concentrated, with India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan accounting for more than half of global cases, and TB continues to be the number one cause of death among people living with HIV due to their increased susceptibility. After exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the vast majority of individuals develop latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI); while not everyone will progress to active disease, an estimated 5–10% will develop reactivated TB over their lifetime without treatment. Given TB’s global burden and its significant public health implications, a thorough understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of both latent and active tuberculosis remains essential for clinicians and public health practitioners.