Porto Alegre expands tuberculosis prevention for people living with HIV

Porto Alegre has expanded its tuberculosis prevention measures for people living with HIV. The initiative utilizes portable X-ray equipment at the Regionalized Center for Comprehensive Care and Prevention of STIs, HIV/AIDS, and Co-infections (Craip) to allow for more agile and integrated patient assessments.

This measure is part of the Ministry of Health’s Universal Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) project for people living with HIV. The goal is to increase access to prevention and identify individuals who require preventive treatment. Before starting treatment, clinicians must ensure patients do not show signs of active tuberculosis; the X-rays assist in this safety process.

The city is also incorporating artificial intelligence to support healthcare professionals in analyzing images and identifying potential pulmonary alterations. This technology serves as a screening aid and does not replace clinical evaluation. The Municipal Health Secretariat intends to consolidate this workflow before expanding the strategy to other municipal services, including primary healthcare.