Tuberculosis and humans: Till death do us part?

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is arguably one of the oldest diseases known to mankind. Cases have been reported in virtually all countries of the world, and all age groups are known to suffer from the disease. TB is among the highest infectious disease causes of death globally, and the rate is not abating despite all the efforts aimed at eradicating the pathogen. Several drug combinations have been used to treat patients infected with TB, and some new drugs are currently being developed. The pathogen has, however, continued to sustain its infectivity and prevalence among humans. Innovative advances have been made to improve diagnoses and detect drug resistance to ensure patients get optimal antimicrobial coverage, yet the result has not been very encouraging. It is highly recommended that a more stringent approach be applied to early detection to curtail the spread within communities. Furthermore, more countries should adopt extended drug susceptibility testing before treatment commencement, give expedited approval for drugs on clinical trials with proven efficacy, and embrace host-directed therapy in order to improve treatment outcomes.