A Review on Clinical Pharmacist Care Services on Prevention and Management of Tuberculosis associated Burden in Health Care Practice

Tuberculosis is caused by a highly transmissible microorganism, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis spreads infection through air due to coughing, sneezing, spiting and talking imposes major health problems in the community. Every year more than 2 million people die with tuberculosis from Africa, China, and South East Asia having higher incidences. Around 2,80,000 people get affected by tuberculosis in India, the second highest drug resistance tuberculosis affected country in the world. The tuberculosis patients suffer with weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, sticky blood in sputum, chest pain and fatigue. Drug resistant tuberculosis often encountered by bacteria that do not respond to anti-tubercular drugs like Isoniazid and Rifampicin. Drug resistance emerges due to premature treatment pattern, poor medication adherence, ineffective drug formulations and poor quality of medications, improper storage and act of self medications. Though effective treatments are provided by the physician, the prevention and management of tuberculosis is now called for intervention by health care team. Clinical pharmacist being one in health care team can be effectively positioned in the treatment care can initiate and implement health screening awareness programme, education on early diagnosis, infection control practices, drug resistance burden awareness and offering supportive care. Clinical pharmacist in all clinical setup and community health care centre can render meticulous services in the eradication of tuberculosis disease.