Recent developments in the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health issue worldwide, with ~9.6 million new incident cases and 1.5 million deaths in 2014. The End-TB Strategy launched by the World Health Organization in the context of the post-2015 agenda aims to markedly abate the scourge of TB towards global elimination, by improving current diagnostic and therapeutic practices, promoting preventative interventions, stimulating government commitment and increased financing, and intensifying research and innovation. The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant strains is currently among the greatest concerns, which may hinder the achievement of future goals. It is crucial that primary healthcare providers are sufficiently familiar with the basic principles of TB diagnosis and care, to ensure early case detection and prompt referral to specialised centres for treatment initiation and follow-up. Given their special relationship with patients, they are in the best position to promote educational interventions and identify at-risk individuals as well as to improve adherence to treatment.
Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for TB/HIV and TB elimination, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Giorgia
0000-0001-6641-0094
G
Sulis
WHO Collaborating Centre for TB and Lung Diseases, Maugeri Institute, IRCCS, Italy.
Rosella
R
Centis
Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari-Research, Medical Education and Professional Development Unit, AOU Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Sotgiu
WHO Collaborating Centre for TB and Lung Diseases, Maugeri Institute, IRCCS, Italy.|Public Health Consulting Group, Lugano, Switzerland.
Lia
L
D'Ambrosio
Department of Infectious Diseases, Galliera Hospital, Genova, Italy.
Emanuele
E
Pontali
Pneumology Unit, Maugeri Institute, IRCCS, Tradate, Italy.|Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
Antonio
A
Spanevello
Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for TB/HIV and TB elimination, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Alberto
A
Matteelli
Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Alimuddin
A
Zumla
WHO Collaborating Centre for TB and Lung Diseases, Maugeri Institute, IRCCS, Italy.
Giovanni Battista
0000-0002-2597-574X
GB
Migliori
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents