Tuberculosis: Past, Present and Future

Epidemiology International Journal, 2019

Tuberculosis (TB), an old disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still responsible for more deaths worldwide each year than any other infectious disease, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in spite of availability of effective treatment that has existed for over 50 years since the 1940s. The development of resistance to antibiotics is only one of the many challenges facing the fight to stem this deadly epidemic. Practical factors including a lack of community awareness, access to diagnostic tools, healthcare facilities, and patient supervision and follow-up are compounded by the disease's wide geographic range. A failure of communication and coordination between local and international control units is equally problematic. As we continue to make great strides in medical technology and research, there is the need for a greater effort to mobilize resources and make lasting, focused investments of funding and professional training in areas of endemic TB in order to finally see an end to this bacteria's lasting reign of devastation. This review article looks at the current global trends of the disease from a broader perspective.

Journal of Ancient Diseases & Preventive Remedies, 2013

The history of tuberculosis (TB) is intricately connected to the history of humanity. The disease is considered one of the oldest infectious diseases afflicting mankind. Its history is that of colorful, often vibrant descriptions and interpretations, in the attempt of human societies to demystify the origins, causality, and course of this grave and lethal disease, and in the ultimate pursuit of finding a cure. The discovery of the tubercle bacillus on March 24 th 1882, by Robert Koch, led to an unprecedented increase in international research efforts, ultimately resulting in the development of a vaccine and many potent antimicrobial agents and treatment regimens. However, the course of history is often not without some irony, commonly perceived as being unpredictable by those who find themselves immersed in history's path. In this sense, and despite the advances that were made in diagnostics and treatment during the past 70 years, TB continues to challenge mankind on numerous levels even today. The most recent emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively-drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is only a small but significant reflection of the ongoing challenges in the attempt of eradicating this disease. Here we provide a review of the historic aspects of TB leading to a discussion of the current state of the approach to antituberculous treatment, including the aspects of microbiology, diagnostics, antimicrobial therapy, and public health. A Brief Review of History from Prehistoric Evidence to the Modern World As stated above, Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most deadly, but also J o u r n a l of Infec ti o u s D is eases & P r e v en tive M e d i c in e

This article was published in an CASRP journal. The attached copy is furnished to the author for non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution, sharing with colleagues and providing to institution administration. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copied, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding CASRP΄s archiving and manuscript policies encouraged to visit: http://www.casrp.co.uk/journals Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem. The disease affects people in both developed and developing countries. M. tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, were initially found in soil. TB was thought to have been introduced in Assyria by the migration of Indo-European cattle herders who were carrying M. tuberculosis by virtue of their exposure to cattle infected with the tubercle bacillus in fifth century BC. Europe, become the epicenter for TB epidemics starting in the 16th and 17th centuries. The famous presentations and postulates of Koch changed dramatically the history of tuberculosis in 1882. In the 20th century, TB steadily dropped in the developed world due to better public health practices and widespread use of the M. bovis BCG vaccine, as well as the development of antibiotics in the 1950s. Unfortunately, the developing world is still suffering heavily from TB. This global crisis is compounded by the emergence of multidrug resistance. The HIV infection and AIDS stand out as the most significant among all the risk-factors for TB and has succeeded in consistently and significantly altering the incidence rate of TB over the last three decades. The recent advances in diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines and enhanced implementation of existing interventions have increased the prospects for improved clinical care and global tuberculosis control.

Archives of Internal Medicine, 2003

Background: The increasing global burden of tuberculosis (TB) is linked to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Methods: We reviewed data from notifications of TB cases, cohort treatment outcomes, surveys of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and HIV prevalence in patients with TB and other subgroups. Information was collated from published literature and databases held by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (UNAIDS), the US Census Bureau, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results: There were an estimated 8.3 million (5th-95th centiles, 7.3-9.2 million) new TB cases in 2000 (137/ 100000 population; range, 121/100000-151/100000). Tuberculosis incidence rates were highest in the WHO African Region (290/100000 per year; range, 265/100000-331/100000), as was the annual rate of increase in the number of cases (6%). Nine percent (7%-12%) of all new TB cases in adults (aged 15-49 years) were attributable to HIV infection, but the proportion was much greater in the WHO African Region (31%) and some industrialized countries, notably the United States (26%). There were an estimated 1.8 million (5th-95th centiles, 1.6-2.2 million) deaths from TB, of which 12% (226000) were attributable to HIV. Tuberculosis was the cause of 11% of all adult AIDS deaths. The prevalence of M tuberculosis-HIV coinfection in adults was 0.36% (11 million people). Coinfection prevalence rates equaled or exceeded 5% in 8 African countries. In South Africa alone there were 2 million coinfected adults. Conclusions: The HIV pandemic presents a massive challenge to global TB control. The prevention of HIV and TB, the extension of WHO DOTS programs, and a focused effort to control HIV-related TB in areas of high HIV prevalence are matters of great urgency.

Journal of Global Infectious Diseases, 2011

Virulence, 2014

World TB Day commemorates Dr Robert Koch's first announcement on March 24, 1882, that the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis. Currently, the event comprises of several conferences, meetings and activities held all over the world with the singular intention of raising public awareness about the global health emergency. In spite of having discovered the etiological agent of tuberculosis more than a century ago, a sizeable population still contract the disease every year and fall prey to it. In 2012, an estimated 8.6 million people developed the disease with 1.3 million succumbing to it. The number of TB deaths in children is unacceptably large, given that most are preventable. However, the challenge appears to be shifting toward attempts to control the rise and spread of the drug resistant variants of the microbe. To achieve this, a concerted effort from academia, clinical practice, and industry has been put forth. The TB Summit 2014 attemp...

Medicinal Research Reviews, 2005

European Radiology, 2003

Despite the fact that major progress has been made in the development of new strategies for diagnosing and treating tuberculosis, the disease still remains a huge challenge for the world's health care. Numerous causes are responsible for this threat, but many of them cannot be resolved since a lot have cultural and social roots which cannot be changed easily. Furthermore, not all countries in the world have enough financial resources to provide essential support for their educational and therapeutic programs. One of the major challenges for tuberculosis is to deal with the growing and changing epidemic around the world, especially in the "low-income" countries. A new generation of clinicians as well as radiologists should be prepared to consider this "almost forgotten" disease as a new challenge at the beginning of this new millennium.

South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde, 1996

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development

One of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world that causes millions of deaths per year is tuberculosis (TB). In this document we present an overview of TB including pathogenesis, diagnosis and recommendations for treatment. We searched PubMed for related articles on TB in preparation for this post. We have also checked for similar reporting and clinical recommendations on the websites of international organisations such as the World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The aim of this paper was to give health staff, policy-makers, patients and the public general education.