Update: prevention and treatment of tuberculosis

Tuberculosis remains one of the leading infectious disease killers globally. A significant reservoir of infected individuals and disease activity remains, particularly in the countries of the world which have the least economic resources to treat latent and active disease. This has set the stage, over the decades, for the development of multi-drug resistant isolates now easily spread around the world with increased trans-national migration. Tuberculosis treatment and control requires a global approach with international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) overseeing National Tuberculosis Control Programs and seeking financial support from governmental as well as non-governmental sources. Directly Observed Therapy Short Course (DOTS) and DOTS Plus remain the cornerstones in the treatment of drug sensitive and drug resistant diseases respectively. Research activity should focus in developing early diagnostic tools and drugs which would be able to effectively treat tuberculosis cases for shorter periods of time in the new millennium. Curr Opin Infect Dis 13:155-159. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.