Are TB antibodies passed from mother to child?

Nurses General Nursing

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It is my understanding that (generally speaking) people with inactive tuberculosis have the mycobacteria, but the bacteria is in an inactive form or the person's immune system is able to keep it bay. The person has anti-bodies for the bacteria, and the presence of those anti-bodies is what makes the skin-test come back positive.

My question- Can a mother with inactive tb pass tb anti-bodies to her baby either through the placenta or through her breast milk?

I've spent a lot of time searching online, and cannot find the answer. Most of the sites say that mothers with active tb can pass it to their baby, but that's not my question.

Your insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Google "LTBI vertical transmission"

I found lots of good articles and info

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Transmission of TB is not what I'm asking about. I'm specifically interested in the transmission of the anti-bodies. Perhaps you can provide a link?

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Many antibodies (it's not hyphenated) can be passed along to a newborn, often in colostrum/breast milk, but they don't last long, 6-24 weeks. The newborn has to grow a functioning immune system to make his own.

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Thanks. Do you happen to know if tb antibodies are among those passed to the newborn?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Transmission of TB is not what I'm asking about. I'm specifically interested in the transmission of the anti-bodies. Perhaps you can provide a link?

You specifically asked about "inactivated TB". That is what LTBI is.

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LTBI stands for Latent Tuberculosis Infection. The infection causes the production of the antibodies, but is not the same thing.

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A related question-

Can a person have tb antibodies without having latent or active tb?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

But unless you have received the vaccine, the only way a person's body would produce antibodies is through infection.

If you're looking for info on vertical transmission of antibodies, discrete from infection, latent or active, then google "BCG vertical transmission"

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
A related question-

Can a person have tb antibodies without having latent or active tb?

Yes, if they've received the BCG

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*Assume the person was never infected with the bacteria

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
*Assume the person was never infected with the bacteria

*See my post above

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