World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is celebrated every year on March 24th to raise awareness about the global epidemic of TB and the efforts to eliminate the disease. TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is transmitted through the air when infected individuals cough or sneeze. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), TB is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide and is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. In 2020, an estimated 10 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.5 million people died from the disease.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, progress has been made in the fight against TB. The WHO reports that in 2020, the global TB incidence rate fell by 9% compared to 2019. However, the progress is still far from sufficient to reach the Sustainable Development Goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2030. The development and deployment of new technologies are critical to accelerating the elimination of TB.

One such technology is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the accuracy and speed of TB diagnosis. AI algorithms can analyze chest X-rays and CT scans to detect TB with high accuracy. In a study published in the Lancet Digital Health, researchers trained an AI algorithm on over 4,000 chest X-rays from patients with and without TB. The algorithm achieved a sensitivity of 96.9% and a specificity of 97.2% in detecting TB, outperforming human radiologists.

Another technology that holds promise for TB elimination is the development of new drugs and vaccines. In 2019, two new drugs for the treatment of drug-resistant TB were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Pretomanid, developed by the non-profit organization TB Alliance, is the first new TB drug to be approved in over 40 years. The drug is part of a three-drug regimen that has shown high success rates in treating drug-resistant TB. The other drug, called bedaquiline, is also highly effective against drug-resistant TB and has been shown to significantly reduce mortality in patients with the disease.

In addition to new drugs, several vaccines are in development to prevent TB. The only currently available TB vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), is only partially effective and does not protect against the most common form of TB in adults. Several new vaccine candidates are in clinical trials, including the M72/AS01E vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline. In a phase 2b trial, the vaccine was found to be 50% effective in preventing TB in adults with latent TB infection.

In addition to these technological advances, digital health tools are also being used to improve TB care and surveillance. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies, such as text messaging and smartphone apps, are being used to improve treatment adherence and provide patient education. In India, a text messaging system called 99DOTS is being used to monitor TB treatment adherence. Patients receive a daily reminder to take their medication and are instructed to send a text message to confirm that they have taken their dose. The system has been shown to improve treatment adherence and reduce the risk of treatment failure.

Overall, technology has the potential to play a crucial role in the elimination of TB. AI algorithms can improve the accuracy and speed of TB diagnosis, new drugs and vaccines are being developed to treat and prevent TB, and digital health tools are being used to improve TB care and surveillance. However, these technologies must be integrated into comprehensive TB control strategies that address the social and economic determinants of the disease. By working together, we can achieve the goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2030.