title: Tuberculosis.
abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infectious disease caused by organisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Although primarily a pulmonary pathogen, M. tuberculosis can cause disease in almost any part of the body. Infection with M. tuberculosis can evolve from containment in the host, in which the bacteria are isolated within granulomas (latent TB infection), to a contagious state, in which the patient will show symptoms that can include cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss. Only active pulmonary TB is contagious. In many low-income and middle-income countries, TB continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and drug-resistant TB is a major concern in many settings. Although several new TB diagnostics have been developed, including rapid molecular tests, there is a need for simpler point-of-care tests. Treatment usually requires a prolonged course of multiple antimicrobials, stimulating efforts to develop shorter drug regimens. Although the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used worldwide, mainly to prevent life-threatening TB in infants and young children, it has been ineffective in controlling the global TB epidemic. Thus, efforts are underway to develop newer vaccines with improved efficacy. New tools as well as improved programme implementation and financing are necessary to end the global TB epidemic by 2035.
authors: McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Québec, Québec H3A 1A2, Canada.|Manipal McGill Center for Infectious Diseases, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
authors: Madhukar
authors: M
authors: Pai
authors: McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Québec, Québec H3A 1A2, Canada.
authors: Marcel A
authors: MA
authors: Behr
authors: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Dowdy
authors: Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Keertan
authors: K
authors: Dheda
authors: McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Québec, Québec H3A 1A2, Canada.
authors: Maziar
authors: M
authors: Divangahi
authors: Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Catharina C
authors: CC
authors: Boehme
authors: Aeras, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Ginsberg
authors: Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India.
authors: Soumya
authors: S
authors: Swaminathan
authors: Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, New York, New York, USA.
authors: Melvin
authors: M
authors: Spigelman
authors: Global TB Programme, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Haileyesus
authors: H
authors: Getahun
authors: McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Québec, Québec H3A 1A2, Canada.
authors: Dick
authors: D
authors: Menzies
authors: Global TB Programme, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Raviglione
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine