Management of Tuberculosis

The management of tuberculosis (TB) is complicated. TB management requires a concerted and coordinated effort from different medical disciplines, sectors in society, and all government levels in a country. The management of TB includes preventive measures such as vaccination and addressing social problems such as overcrowding and malnutrition. TB management involves the treatment of latent or active TB and addressing the side effects of medications and the interaction with other medicines taken for comorbid conditions. Treatment of TB also includes the non-pharmacologic management of the infection or its complications. Challenges in the management of TB include the emergence of drug-resistant TB, non-adherence by patients due to the long duration of treatment, the HIV pandemic, which fuels TB and extra-pulmonary TB. Internationally, heads of state under the World Health Organization are making efforts to eliminate TB. This effort would require the use of every available resource and technology to achieve. Positron emission tomography integrated with computed tomography could address some of the challenges in the management of TB.