Symposium 14

Abstract:
The presentation explores a comprehensive overview of Taiwan’s strategic efforts in integrating public health and clinical practices to address the increasing challenges of Tuberculosis (TB) and systemic autoimmune diseases, with a specific focus on Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The narrative emphasizes the initiation of a robust risk management plan prior to the commencement of targeted therapies, which include Tumor Necrosis Factor inhibitors (TNFi), non-TNFi biologics, and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi), to preemptively mitigate the risk of TB.

Taiwan’s proactive public health strategies, such as the TB halving initiative, coupled with stringent patient screening and monitoring protocols, have substantially reduced TB incidence. Central to these efforts is the annual follow-up with Quantiferon testing, a critical tool for the early detection of latent TB reactivation, especially in patients undergoing advanced immunosuppressive treatments. This practice is a cornerstone of Taiwan’s TB control strategy, enabling timely intervention and management of latent TB infection in RA patients.

The presentation demonstrates how Taiwan has successfully balanced the dual objectives of advancing RA treatment with targeted therapies and controlling TB, through a meticulous, data-driven public health approach. The inclusion of annual Quantiferon testing illustrates Taiwan’s commitment to precision medicine and patient safety, ensuring that the benefits of targeted therapies in RA management are maximized while minimizing the infectious risks.

This abstract collectively displays Taiwan’s integrative model that synergizes clinical innovation with proactive public health measures, offering a replicable framework for global health systems. The insights provided demonstrate the effectiveness of annual monitoring and the importance of a comprehensive risk management plan in navigating the complexities of treating systemic autoimmune diseases within the context of infectious disease epidemiology.