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Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's second-deadliest infectious disease. Despite the availability of drugs to cure TB, control of TB is hampered by the emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). The presence of MDR/XDR-TB is alarming due to the low detection rate, high treatment failure, and high mortality. The increasing cases of MDR/XDR-TB are mainly due to the limitations in the diagnostic tests to detect the drug susceptibility of the pathogen, which contribute to the spread of the disease through close contacts. Moreover, inconsistent drug therapy or unsuitable drug regimens could also lead to the subsequent development of drug resistance. The close contacts of an index MDR/XDR-TB patient are at increased risk of developing MDR/XDR-TB. Also, the BCG vaccine may exhibit varying protective effects due to BCG strain diversification, host immune status, exposure to environmental non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), and differences in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) subspecies infection, as in the case of sub-optimal protection in the case of Beijing family genotypes of Mtb. This review provides an overview of the current state of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) within the context of the global TB pandemic, with a focus on diagnosis, treatment, and the potential impact of BCG vaccination. It highlights the limitations of current approaches and aims to identify opportunities for improving TB control strategies.

Objetivo: Conocer la prevalencia y características de los factores sociales de riesgo (FSR) para la falta de cumplimiento terapéutico entre los enfermos de tuberculosis de Pontevedra. Métodos: Análisis descriptivo de los enfermos de tuberculosis con FSR diagnosticados entre 1996 y 2002. Se consideró FSR la presencia de aislamiento social (alcoholismo, uso de drogas por vía parenteral, presidiario, sin domicilio fijo-sin techo, inadaptación social) o la inmigración. Se calculó la prevalencia y la tendencia anual de los FSR, la situación final de los pacientes y la influencia de la administración directamente observada del tratamiento en la situación final. Resultados: De los 775 casos de TB, 156 pacientes (20,1%) tenían algún FSR, 86 pacientes presentaban alcoholismo, 41 eran usuarios de drogas por vía parenteral, 24 eran inmigrantes, 14 no tenían domicilio fijo, 11 se consideraron con inadaptación social y 10 eran presidiarios. La presencia de FSR entre los enfermos de tuberculosis no mostró una tendencia a aumentar o disminuir durante el período de estudio, excepto por el incremento de inmigrantes (χ2 para la tendencia lineal = 12,24; p = 0,005). La proporciσn de pacientes con situaciσn final satisfactoria (curaciσn bacteriolσgica o tratamiento finalizado) fue significativamente mayor en el grupo de pacientes sin FSR (el 90,4 frente al 70,8%; p < 0,001). La administraciσn directamente observada del tratamiento a los pacientes con FSR no mejorσ de manera significativa el porcentaje de enfermos con situaciσn final satisfactoria. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con FSR tienen una mayor probabilidad de presentar una situación final no satisfactoria. La presencia de FSR entre los enfermos con tuberculosis es baja en nuestro medio. Existe una incipiente tendencia al aumento de enfermos inmigrantes procedentes de países con mayor prevalencia de tuberculosis, hecho que debe considerarse de cara a un mejor control de la enfermedad.Objetive: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of social risk factors (SRF) for noncompliance with treatment in patients with tuberculosis (TB) in Pontevedra. Methods: We performed a descriptive analysis of patients with TB and SRF diagnosed between 1996 and 2002. A patient was considered as having SRF if he or she was socially isolated (alcoholism, intravenous drug use, prison inmate, homelessness or social maladjustment) or was an immigrant. The prevalence, annual trend of SRF and patient outcomes were calculated. The influence of direct observation of treatment administration on the outcome of patients with SRF was also analyzed. Results: Of 775 patients with TB, 156 (20.1%) had at least one SRF. Eighty-six patients were alcoholic, 41 were intravenous drug users, 24 were immigrants, 11 were homeless, 11 showed social maladjustment and 10 were prison inmates. The presence of SRF among TB patients showed no tendency to increase or decrease during the study period, except for the increasing number of immigrants (χ2 for lineal tendency = 12.24; p = 0.005). Final outcomes were significantly better in patients without SRF (90.4 vs 70.8% of satisfactory final outcomes; p < 0.001). Direct observation of treatment did not increase satisfactory outcomes in patients with SRF. Conclusions: Patients with TB and SRF have a significantly higher proportion of unsatisfactory final outcomes. The presence of SRF is relatively low in our environment. The number of immigrants from countries with a high prevalence of TB shows an incipient tendency to increase. This finding should be taken into account to achieve better control of the disease.