The management and control of tuberculosis in Malta

Abstract

Tuberculosis is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease occurs throughout the world and remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries. Each year, it is estimated that 8 million new cases occur and that it causes three million deaths. Whereas its prevalence has declined considerably in the industrial world within the last 50 years, it has re-emerged among patients with human immunodeficiency virus. The use of chemotherapy has contributed generously to the rapid decline in tuberculosis mortality occurring in the last four decades. The use of chemotherapy in non-compliant patients has been successful to a much lesser extent. Fixed-dose combination products have been formulated to minimize the compliance required for the patient to adhere to the treatment regimen. The quality control and bioavailability of fixed dose combination preparations has recently been disputed.