Quality of drug-resistant tuberculosis care: Gaps and solutions.

ABSTRACT: Drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis (DR-TB) are a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality and the treatment of DR-TB is characterized by long and toxic regimens that result in low rates of cure. There are few formal studies documenting the quality of DR-TB treatment services provided globally, but the limited data that do exist show there is a quality crisis in the field. This paper reviews current issues impacting quality of care in DR-TB, including within the areas of patient-centeredness, safety, effectiveness and equity. Specific issues affecting DR-TB quality of care include: 1) the use of regimens with limited efficacy, significant toxicity, and high pill burden; 2) standardized treatment without drug susceptibility testing; 3) non-quality assured medications and drug st

SUBMITTER: Udwadia Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6830144 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature