The DOTS strategy for controlling the global tuberculosis epidemic.
This article reviews the principles, scientific basis, and experience with implementation of the directly observed treatment strategy, short course (DOTS) for tuberculosis. The relevance of DOTS in the context of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and the HIV epidemic also is discussed.
Frieden
Thomas R
TR
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013, USA. tfrieden@health.nyc.gov
Munsiff
Sonal S
SS
D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014944:World Health Organization