TB patients in Uzbekistan.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of poverty, with the greatest burden in low income countries. The highest incidence is seen in southern African countries where TB has been fuelled by high rates of HIV infection. People with HIV and TB infection have a 10-fold greater risk of developing active TB disease compared to those who are HIV negative.

In Africa and elsewhere, the development of drug resistant strains of tuberculosis is also a threat to efforts to treat and control tuberculosis. The highest rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), defined as resistance to the two most important drugs we have to treat TB, are found in countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. However MDR-TB is found in all settings where surveys have been conducted, and there remain many countries, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region where there is no data available on the extent of TB drug resistance and the threat it poses both for individuals and for TB control.

Currently there are millions of people worldwide who do not receive adequate treatment for TB, and this is reflected in rising numbers of patients in many countries. In addition to better utilisation of the existing tools for diagnosis and treatment, newer tools are required. Specifically, there is an urgent need to develop and make accessible, better tests for active tuberculosis, particularly in those who are co-infected with HIV. Affordable and appropriate tests that can rapidly detect drug resistance are also desperately needed. In addition to new diagnostics, dramatic improvements to the standard treatment for TB, which currently requires a minimum of six months of treatment, are needed.

For more information about tuberculosis please contact Dr. Helen Cox (03) 8506 2365 or to make a donation please contact the Burnet Institute (03) 9282 2111.