Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases
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Infect. Genet. Evol. · Aug 2019
ReviewImproving diagnosis and case management of patients with tuberculosis: A review of gaps, needs and potential solutions in accessing laboratory diagnostics.
Tuberculosis (TB) recently surpassed HIV/AIDS as the deadliest infectious disease. Despite some advancements in technologies and programs, TB remains a global health epidemic that, without significant gains in better diagnostic and management, will not abate. This review describes the molecular diagnostic gaps, needs, and potential solutions for improving access to diagnosis and management of patients with drug susceptible and drug resistant TB. ⋯ Closing these gaps will enable national programs to more efficiently diagnose TB, monitor treatment efficacy, and control drug resistance. Prioritization is based on technologies that address facilitate a more patient-centered approach, and are appropriate for low-resource and high-burden TB settings. New diagnostics must complement current or anticipated developments elsewhere and accelerate increased coverage, quality, and impact at the lower levels of the healthcare system.