The never-ending story of the fight against tuberculosis: from Koch's bacillus to global control programs

J Prev Med Hyg. 2018 Sep 28;59(3):E241-E247. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2018.59.3.1051. eCollection 2018 Sep.

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest diseases known to affect humanity, and is still a major public health problem. It is caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT), isolated in 1882 by Robert Koch. Until the 1950s, X rays were used as a cheap method of diagnostic screening together with the tuberculin skin sensitivity test. In the diagnosis and treatment of TB, an important role was also played by surgery. The late Nineteenth century saw the introduction of the tuberculosis sanatorium, which proved to be one of the first useful measures against TB. Subsequently, Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin used a non-virulent MT strain to produce a live attenuated vaccine. In the 1980s and 1990s, the incidence of tuberculosis surged as a major opportunistic infection in people with HIV infection and AIDS; for this reason, a combined strategy based on improving drug treatment, diagnostic instruments and prevention was needed.

Keywords: Bacille Calmette Guerìn; History of tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Tuberculosis control strategy.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Bacillus
  • Communicable Disease Control*
  • Drug Discovery
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple
  • Global Health*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis / history
  • Tuberculosis / prevention & control*
  • Tuberculosis / surgery
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines