Treatment of Tuberculosis in Brazil —Past, Present, and Future Challenges

AbstractPurpose of reviewAlmost 75  years since the introduction of chemotherapy for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), it remains the single leading infectious cause of mortality and one of the top 10 causes of deaths in 2016 worldwide. Brazil is one of the countries with the highest burden of disease in the world, and despite the downward trend in disease incidence and mortality, TB is still the third leading cause of death among infectious diseases in the country. Although diagnosis and treatment are performed universally and free of charge, barriers in access result in 69,500 new cases and 4500 deaths each year. This revi ew provides a historical overview and the latest knowledge of TB treatment and adherence optimization in Brazil.Recent findingsChemotherapy remains the main component of the arsenal used to control TB. The currently available treatments can cure almost all TB cases with a timely diagnosis; however, failing to complete prescribed therapy can lead to poor outcomes, including increased risk of treatment failure, disease relapse, sustained transmission, development of drug resistance, and ultimately death. Adherence is a complex and challenging key element for treatment success. Thus, several intervention strategies to improve compliance have been used during the last several decades of TB treatment. Among the most used and recommended by the World Health Organization, fixed dose combinations and directly observed therapy are discussed in detail.SummaryNew...
Source: Current Treatment Options in Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research