Challenges to effective control of tuberculosis and drug resistance in African countries

Abstract

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) appeared soon after the introduction of chemotherapy and is considered a man-made phenomenon. Despite the efficacy of short course chemotherapy, which includes a cocktail of drugs and has been generally recommended since the 1960s, increasing numbers of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) cases were reported worldwide in the early 1990s. In the WHO’s 2004 report on surveillance of drug-resistant TB, MDRTB is   reported from over 100 countries. Although little data is available on drug-resistant TB in Africa, this paper presents an overview of the current situation on the African continent, which is severely affected by the TB epidemic.