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.
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