Spain Tuberculosis Surge Reaches 4,270 Cases
Spain recorded 4,270 native tuberculosis cases in 2024, marking an 8.3% increase from the previous year according to the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network, isanidad.com reported.
The notification rate climbed to 8.8 cases per 100,000 residents. This upward shift broke several years of declining infection rates across the country.
Children under the age of 15 accounted for 269 of the reported infections. Pulmonary tuberculosis remained the dominant form of the disease, although roughly three out of ten cases presented extrapulmonary localizations. Notification rates varied widely among autonomous communities, with higher figures concentrated among individuals born outside Spain.
International Tuberculosis Conference Convenes in Barcelona
The epidemiological rebound provided the backdrop for the XXX International Tuberculosis Conference in Barcelona. The Fundación de la Unidad de Investigación en Tuberculosis de Barcelona promoted the two-day gathering held on November 3 and 4.
Joan Caylà, president of the foundation, warned attendees against complacency regarding the national case spike.
He stated that persistent obstacles in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment demand continued research and cooperation among all involved agents. Sessions at the event covered molecular diagnostics, drug resistance detection, and enhanced coordination between health and social services.
Tuberculosis Incidence Drops Among Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy
Experts at the conference also examined national trends regarding HIV and tuberculosis coinfection. Data from the CoRIS cohort, which tracks nearly 20,000 individuals with HIV, showed that tuberculosis incidence among patients who developed the disease after starting antiretroviral therapy dropped to 0.2 cases per 1,000 person-years between 2019 and 2023. That figure represents a 97% reduction compared to earlier periods analyzed.
However, mortality reached 15% among individuals who presented with tuberculosis at the exact time of their HIV diagnosis.
In contrast, mortality sat at 4% for patients who did not have tuberculosis upon testing positive for HIV. María Velasco, president of GeSIDA, emphasized that late HIV diagnosis continues to dictate patient prognosis.
“The reduction of tuberculosis among people with HIV demonstrates the enormous impact that advances in antiretroviral treatment and clinical care have had,” Velasco said, according to isanidad.com. “However, we cannot consider the problem solved.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Spain’s Tuberculosis Data
What groups experienced the highest tuberculosis rates in Spain?
Notification rates were notably higher among individuals born outside Spain, while the national case surge also impacted children under 15 with 269 reported infections.
How much did HIV-associated tuberculosis incidence drop?
Data from the CoRIS cohort showed incidence dropped by 97% between 2019 and 2023 among patients who developed tuberculosis after starting antiretroviral therapy.
What specific challenges did preliminary treatment data reveal?
Preliminary records showed registry gaps that made it difficult to evaluate patient evolution and detect instances where individuals were lost to follow-up care.