Leaders from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Stop TB Partnership recently published the second part of the report titled “Out of Step,” which was previously an outdated resource that allowed drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) to continue spreading.
“Out of Step” is a series of practices and policies used daily in 24 countries as health care workers diagnose and treat TB. The report now outlines 14 important practices and policies that the World Health Organization recommends.
TB must be reduced for countries to reach the worldwide goals for decreasing TB-related deaths and cases by over 90 percent in 20 years. WHO says health care workers need to use more aggressive efforts starting today.
“Outdated policies for TB treatment that put people at risk of increased suffering and death should be banished, including re-treatment regimens that potentially increase drug resistance, and mandatory hospitalization during treatment,” Grania Brigden, MSF Access Campaign TB adviser, said. “The use of rapid molecular tests that can effectively diagnose drug resistance hasn’t yet reached the broad coverage needed. We won’t be able to close the huge gaps in TB diagnosis and treatment unless the policies and practices known to reduce illness, death, and transmission are fully adopted and implemented in every country, including the best use of every effective tool available today.”
