Tuberculosis: A Persistent Threat to Global Health - Part 2: Tools for Tuberculosis Control: Not Just a Problem of Implementation (28:18)

Tuberculosis remains one of the most important causes of human disease and death despite the introduction of... » More

Tuberculosis remains one of the most important causes of human disease and death despite the introduction of vaccination in 1921 and chemotherapy in 1952. Although these interventions are inexpensive and widely available their impact is limited. The effectiveness of vaccination is unclear; in clinical trials, the protection conferred by vaccination has been variable and generally poor. Although chemotherapy can be highly effective, multiple drugs must be administered for 6-9 months to provide a reliable cure; the majority of tuberculosis patients are unable or unwilling to complete such a demanding regimen unless closely supervised. The second part of this lecture will discuss the challenges facing development of more effective vaccines and drugs for prevention and treatment of tuberculosis. « Hide