This November, at The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2023, there was much optimism, as it seemed that there were finally tools available to fast track work on multiple aspects of TB control. Four, new improved drug regimens that could cut treatment time for drug resistant tuberculosis by up to two thirds, were the primary source of this optimism.
For nearly five decades, few advances have been rolled out in TB care. While TB does not yet have a viable vaccine that can render prevention possible, news of possible treatments that work, and specifically address the elephant in the room in TB care- duration of treatment- naturally gets spirits up. It is the long duration of treatment, and subsequent drug toxicity, that leads to patients being unable to tolerate the drugs, and also non compliance with treatment schedules. This ultimately leads to drug resistant TB.
