Abstract
Background
Australia has among the world’s lowest rates of tuberculosis (TB). However, it remains a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality. In Australia, TB remains more common in Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians, and rates are rising among migrants, reflecting changing immigration patterns and rising rates in their homelands.
Objective
This article reviews recent developments in TB of relevance to Australian general practice and provides an update of advances in the diagnosis and management of TB, and the role of the general practitioners in co-managing people with TB.
Discussion
First hand experience with imported multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is increasing and is anticipated to rise in Australia. The reach of extensively drug resistant TB is also expanding. Although standard guidelines for management of drug susceptible TB remain unchanged, recent progress in the understanding, diagnosis and management of TB has occurred, driven by the need to respond to the challenges of MDR-TB and HIV-TB co-infection.
Australia has among the world’s lowest rates of tuberculosis (TB). However, it remains a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality. In Australia, TB remains more common in Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians, and rates are rising among migrants, reflecting changing immigration patterns and rising rates in their homelands.
Objective
This article reviews recent developments in TB of relevance to Australian general practice and provides an update of advances in the diagnosis and management of TB, and the role of the general practitioners in co-managing people with TB.
Discussion
First hand experience with imported multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is increasing and is anticipated to rise in Australia. The reach of extensively drug resistant TB is also expanding. Although standard guidelines for management of drug susceptible TB remain unchanged, recent progress in the understanding, diagnosis and management of TB has occurred, driven by the need to respond to the challenges of MDR-TB and HIV-TB co-infection.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 578-585 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Australian Family Physician |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |