Published Paper Details:

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a critical global health issue, with an estimated 1.7 billion people infected and 10 million new cases in 2020. TB is a leading cause of death worldwide, outpacing HIV/AIDS, and is increasingly complicated by drug resistance. Current treatment for drug-sensitive TB involves a combination of isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. However, multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) require more complex regimens, incorporating newer agents such as bedaquiline, delamanid, and pretomanid. Despite historical advancements, including the discovery of the TB pathogen by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882, TB continues to challenge global health systems. In India, a high-burden country, TB remains a significant issue with a high mortality rate. The Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP) and the WHO's END TB strategy aim to drastically reduce TB deaths by 2035. Addressing TB effectively requires ongoing research, innovative treatment approaches, and improved diagnostic and treatment strategies to overcome the persistent challenges of this disease.