Health Care System Factors for Tuberculosis (TB) Cases

Health Care System Factors

It is very important that patients with active tuberculosis (TB) disease adhere to their treatment regimen. Treatment adherence is not only important for effective therapy in patients, but also to prevent an increase in cases of drug-resistant ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis''. From 2019 to 2023, drug susceptibility testing was completed on 100% (97 of 97) of the TB cases confirmed by laboratory culture. During this period, 8% of culture isolates had resistance to one or more anti-TB medications relative to the total number of laboratory culture confirmed TB cases. These statistics highlight the need for continued drug sensitivity testing for all TB culture isolates, and the need for directly observed therapy (DOT) for all TB patients to ensure that they take all their medications.