Experts emphasize that raising awareness and promoting a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), which continues to pose a major public health threat in Bangladesh.

People in South Africa who fall ill with tuberculosis (TB) often also have other health issues. HIV, which drives much of the TB epidemic in South Africa, is the most obvious co-infection, but people who fall ill with TB are also more likely to have diabetes and mental health problems than the general public.

Patients who use inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have higher rates of tuberculosis and pneumonia than those who do not use ICS, according to study findings published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is the official publication of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

The Key Asks outline the top priorities the TB community is requesting member states to include in the Political Declaration which is expected to be endorsed by Heads of State during the UN High-Level Meeting on TB in September.

In a recent study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, researchers reported on the treatment of rifampin-resistant tuberculosis in the United States (U.S.) using the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid (BPaL) therapy.

Undernutrition and tobacco use are major determinants of TB globally. In 2021, of the 10.6 million people who fell ill with TB, 2.2 million were attributable to undernutrition and nearly 0.7 million to tobacco smoking. People who smoke tobacco have double the risk of TB disease, slower recovery, and a higher risk of unfavourable TB treatment outcomes, including recurrence of TB, death, and post-TB pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. Smoking cessation during TB treatment can improve treatment outcomes and has been shown to reduce the risk of TB infection and TB disease among household contacts as well. Improving food security and reducing tobacco smoking globally will therefore contribute significantly to the fight to end TB.  

Ongoing efforts to end TB were in the spotlight at the 76th World Health Assembly, held 21-30 May 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland. The theme of this year’s Health Assembly was: WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all.

NEW YORK/GENEVA, MAY 26, 2023 — The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) welcomes today’s passage of a resolution at the 76th annual United Nations World Health Assembly to strengthen countries’ diagnostic testing capacity. With almost half of the global population having little or no access to disease testing, this resolution is an essential step towards improving global access to diagnostic tools, said MSF. Increasing access to testing for a variety of diseases is critical as it is necessary in order to put people on the best medical treatments possible.

A paper published in the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease presents a series of best practices for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of TB during pregnancy, developed following a systematic review of the literature and the input of a global team of health professionals.