Tuberculosis patients

Both active smoking and SHS increases the risk of infection and reactivation of tuberculosis (TB). Tobacco smoke is an independent risk factor for TB severity; delaying sputum smear and culture conversion can lead to treatment failure and can increase mortality. Patients are more likely to change their smoking behaviours during treatment, rendering this period a crucial opportunity for health professionals to deliver brief cessation advice and counselling. Smoking cessation interventions are cost-effective and can be successfully incorporated into TB programmes. The level of intervention should be tailored to the health services’ capacity. All healthcare providers involved with TB care should be trained in tobacco-cessation brief advice. The World Health Organization has proposed that tobacco control should be integrated into TB programmes. Smoking cessation: reduces infection and disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis; improves treatment outcomes; and reduces and/or ameliorates other pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, thereby benefiting society.