The tuberculogenic environment

Abstract

Tuberculosis persists as the world's deadliest infectious disease, despite improved diagnostics and effective treatment. The tuberculogenic environment describes the sum of influences, vulnerabilities, policies, life conditions, and health factors that sustain the tuberculosis pandemic in vulnerable communities. The persistence of these environments is attributable to challenges upstream of the health system, involving sectors such as trade, taxation, finance, agriculture, employment, social services, and education. The availability, affordability, access, and acceptability of safe infrastructure (including housing), nutritious foods, protection against harmful consumption (tobacco, alcohol, sugar, etc), and adequately resourced health services are all linked to tuberculosis risk. Yet people affected by tuberculosis and national tuberculosis control programmes continue to bear almost the sole responsibility for a problem that is largely beyond their control. Reframing tuberculosis through the lens of complex systems science highlights the array of decision makers who, by action or inaction, have a shared responsibility to end tuberculosis as a global pandemic.