What to know
In 2023, 94.6% of persons with tuberculosis (TB) disease began treatment on a TB treatment regimen with at least four anti-TB drugs. This percentage has been consistent since 2012.
Introduction
Successful completion of treatment for persons with TB disease is important to:
- Cure the patient of TB disease,
- Prevent the development of drug resistance to TB treatments, and
- Minimize the risk of spreading TB bacteria to others.
CDC collects information on the date and reason a person with TB disease stopped treatment (e.g., the person completed treatment or died). CDC uses this information to calculate completion of treatment.
Key findings
TB disease treatment
TB disease treatment plans
TB treatment plans vary in the duration of the regimen, the types of anti-TB drugs prescribed, and the dose and frequency of the drugs. Treatment for TB disease can take four, six, or nine months depending on the treatment plan.
The treatment plans for TB disease use different combinations of medicines that may include:
- Ethambutol
- Isoniazid
- Moxifloxacin
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
- Pyrazinamide
Among persons with TB disease who were alive at diagnosis and had initial drug regimen information available in 2023:
- 82.6% began treatment with rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol
- 11.6% began treatment with a four-drug regimen other than rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol
- 5.4% started on a regimen of less than four drugs, including persons who were not prescribed any drugs
- Less than 1% of persons with TB disease began treatment with a four month regimen of high-dose daily rifapentine with moxifloxacin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide
TB disease treatment strategies
CDC recommends directly observed therapy (DOT) as the standard of care for TB treatment. During DOT, a health care worker observes persons with TB ingest their medications, monitors them for adverse events, and provides social support. Persons with TB can receive DOT in-person or virtually by computer or smartphone video, which is called electronic DOT, eDOT, or video DOT.
In 2021, the most recent year for which treatment completion data are available:
- 94.0% of persons with TB disease received at least part of their treatment for TB disease through DOT, and
- 64.8% of persons with TB disease received TB treatment exclusively through DOT.
Case outcomes
Data on TB-related deaths are available from the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System with a 2-year lag. Among 7,866 persons diagnosed with TB disease during 2021, the most recent year for which TB case outcome data are available, a total of 881 (11.2%) persons died.
- Of the 881 deaths, 258 (29.3%) persons were dead at the time of TB diagnosis, and 623 (70.7%) persons died after diagnosis.
- Of the 258 deaths that occurred in persons who were dead at diagnosis, 89 (34.5%) of the deaths were attributed to TB disease.
- Of the 623 deaths that occurred in persons who died after diagnosis, 278 (44.6%) of the deaths were attributed to TB disease.
Data on TB-related deaths are available from the National Vital Statistics System with a 1-year lag. In 2022, there were 565 deaths where TB disease was the reported underlying cause of death, a 6.1% decrease compared with 602 TB-related deaths in 2021.