Tuberculosis (TB): diagnosis, screening, management and data
Information on the diagnosis, screening, epidemiology and public health strategy for tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by a bacterium belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which includes:
- M. tuberculosis
- M. africanum
- M. bovis
- some rare bacteria such as M. microti and M. pinnipedii
TB is a notifiable disease in the UK. Suspected and confirmed diseases must be notified within 3 working days.
For symptoms and general information on tuberculosis, visit NHS.UK.
Diagnosis
Treatment, management and vaccination
Standard anti-TB treatment consists of a combination of 4 different antibiotics, usually taken daily for a minimum 6-month period. See National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on treatment of TB.
The BCG vaccine is recommended for high risk groups such as healthcare workers and babies at increased risk of exposure to TB infection.
See the chapter about tuberculosis (TB) immunisation in Immunisation against infectious disease: the Green Book.
For further information about BCG vaccine and supporting resources please go to Immunisation
Epidemiological reports of TB in the UK
UK Health Security Agency collects real-time tuberculosis (TB) surveillance using the web-based national TB surveillance system (NTBS). This includes laboratory data on TB drug sensitivity, species and genomic relatedness (how similar TB bacteria are in samples from different people).
Screening
TB treatment and management information
TB treatment and management information for patients, providers and employers.
Detecting and diagnosing tuberculosis (TB)
Detecting and diagnosing tuberculosis disease and infection. This includes using whole genome sequencing to investigate TB transmission.
Strategy for dealing with cases of TB
Subscribe to the TB strategy implementation update for progress on the TB strategy.
Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis)
Human cases of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) are rare. These pages present surveillance data on the numbers of human cases of M. bovis and guidance on management of the disease in cattle and other animals to reduce the risk of human infection.
Updates to this page
Last updated 19 August 2024 + show all updates
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Removed out of date documents such as 'Tuberculosis in the workplace', added newer reports, changed headings and made the page more accessible.
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Added 'Tuberculosis (TB) notifications reported to enhanced TB surveillance systems: UK, 2000 to 2022'.
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Added 'Tuberculosis in England, 2022 report (data up to end of 2021)' and 'Reports of cases of TB to UK enhanced tuberculosis surveillance systems, 2000 to 2021'.
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Archived PHE documents.
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Added 'Tuberculosis in England: national quarterly reports'.
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Publication "Tuberculosis (TB): a resource to support TB in low incidence areas" in the 'Strategy' section.
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Added 'National quarterly report of tuberculosis in England: Quarter 4, 2019 provisional data' report.
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Added new page 'Tuberculosis in England: quarterly reports'.
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Added TB annual report for 2018 and the 2018 slide set.
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Added resource for tackling tuberculosis in under-served populations.
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Added guidance for the unlicensed BCG vaccine, in response to a vaccine shortage: training material for healthcare professionals; guide for parents and carers.
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Added existing latent TB testing guidance and patient leaflet in multiple languages to the collection.
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Added treatment and management advice documents from the National Knowledge Service.
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Added publications under 'NKS-TB treatment and management advice'.
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Publishing annual report and statistics covering up to 2014.
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The Tuberculosis in Kent, Surrey and Sussex: annual report has been published.
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The Tuberculosis: notifying cases guidance has been added.
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Updated to include 'Bovine tuberculosis: public health management' guidance.
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2014 annual report added.
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First published.