Strategy and stopping smoking interventions in smokers with tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) and smoking are causing a heavy mortality worldwide. Tobacco smoke increases the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis disease, including severe pulmonary tuberculosis, resistant bacilli forms and death from this disease. Smoking patients with TB have poorer compliance with treatment of tuberculosis than non-smokers. In countries with high TB incidence and smoking prevalence tending to increase, smoking cessation is a means of controlling the TB epidemic. Stopping smoking improves the course of tuberculosis and promotes its final cure, it is accompanied by a better therapeutic observance. WHO recommended coordination between national tuberculosis and tobacco control programs to optimize control of the TB epidemic. The mobilization of health professionals in helping smokers with tuberculosis stopping smoking is required.