Breaking the transmission of tb: A roadmap to bridge the gaps in controlling tb in endemic settings

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), remains an enormous health burden with nearly 2 billion people worldwide being affected by it, though only 10% progress to active disease. Currently around 58% of people infected with M.tb are being diagnosed and treated. The lack of a standard research setting and limited resource in terms of early diagnosis of TB lead to high incidence of transmission of TB infection in high-TB-burden countries. Therefore, early diagnosis of TB and an effective vaccination can primarily break the cycle of transmission of TB. Recommended diagnostic tests, currently available, have several limitations, making them unsuitable for resource-limited settings and remote areas. The healthcare settings are the highest risk zones for transmission of drugresistant M.tb strains. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB is resilient to diagnosis and pose major complications to patient’s health during treatment. In order to limit the spread of MDR TB, we need to implement better diagnostic tools and health measures which may eventually interrupt transmission of M.tb from TB patients to uninfected individuals. Complete and correct execution of regime of anti-TB therapies at both the individual and community level could help in minimizing the transmission of TB. This chapter gives an insight on strategies that aid in interruption of transmission of TB, especially in high-TB-burden areas across the globe.