Can a tuberculosis research program promoted by a scientific society contribute to the control of the disease?

Abstract

Although Spain is a developed country, Tuberculosis (TB) was for years a disease with high incidence rates compared to other European countries, a situation that worsened with the HIV/AIDS epidemic and with the increase of immigration. The Spanish Respiratory Society (SEPAR) created in 2004 the Integrated Research Programs (PII) on respiratory diseases, including TB (PII-TB) which has carried out studies related to the five lines of research that it maintains: clinical / epidemiological, microbiological, technological/ clinical management, evaluative, and international cooperation.

Following the recommendations on the necessity to evaluate health programs made by international organizations, the evaluation of PII-TB was recently carried out, revealing the situation of the main variables of the disease and their evolution over the time that the program has been working.

PII-TB has generated abundant data on the situation of this disease in our country in years when this information has been limited. The fact that the results of the studies have been widely disseminated makes it easier for all professionals involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of TB to implement and/or to improve activities that, finally, will contribute to the control of this disease.