The microbiome and the gut-lung axis in tuberculosis: interplay in the course of disease and treatment.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) that remains a significant global health challenge. The extensive use of antibiotics in tuberculosis treatment, disrupts the delicate balance of the microbiota in various organs, including the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. This gut-lung axis involves dynamic interactions among immune cells, microbiota, and signaling molecules from both organs. The alterations of the microbiome resulting from anti-TB treatment can significantly influence the course of tuberculosis, impacting aspects such as complete healing, reinfection, and relapse. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the gut-lung axis in the context of tuberculosis, with a specific focus on the impact of anti-TB treatment on the microbiome.

Effect of Dysglycemia on Urinary Lipid Mediator Profiles in Persons With Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Background: Oxidized lipid mediators such as eicosanoids play a central role in the inflammatory response associated with tuberculosis (TB) pathogenesis. Diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to marked changes in lipid mediators in persons with TB. However, the associations between diabetes-related changes in lipid mediators and clearance of M. tuberculosis (Mtb) among persons on anti-TB treatment (ATT) are unknown. Quantification of urinary eicosanoid metabolites can provide insights into the circulating lipid mediators involved in Mtb immune responses. Methods: We conducted a multi-site prospective observational study among adults with drug-sensitive pulmonary TB and controls without active TB; both groups had sub-groups with or without dysglycemia at baseline. Participants were enrolled from RePORT-Brazil (Salvador site) and RePORT-South Africa (Durban site) and stratified according to TB status and baseline glycated hemoglobin levels: a) TB-dysglycemia (n=69); b) TB-normoglycemia (n=64); c) non-TB/dysglycemia (n=31); d) non-TB/non-dysglycemia (n=29). We evaluated the following urinary eicosanoid metabolites: 11α-hydroxy-9,15-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetranor-prostane-1,20-dioic acid (major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin E2, PGE-M), tetranor-PGE1 (metabolite of PGE2, TN-E), 9α-hydroxy-11,15-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetranor-prostane-1,20-dioic acid (metabolite of PGD2, PGD-M), 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 (11dTxB2), 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1α (prostaglandin I metabolite, PGI-M), and leukotriene E4 (LTE4). Comparisons between the study groups were performed at three time points: before ATT and 2 and 6 months after initiating therapy. Results: PGE-M and LTE4 values were consistently higher at all three time-points in the TB-dysglycemia group compared to the other groups (p<0.001). In addition, there was a significant decrease in PGI-M and LTE4 levels from baseline to month 6 in the TB-dysglycemia and TB-normoglycemia groups. Finally, TB-dysglycemia was independently associated with increased concentrations of PGD-M, PGI-M, and LTE4 at baseline in a multivariable model adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and study site. These associations were not affected by HIV status. Conclusion: The urinary eicosanoid metabolite profile was associated with TB-dysglycemia before and during ATT. These observations can help identify the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of TB-dysglycemia, and potential biomarkers of TB treatment outcomes, including among persons with dysglycemia.

Tuberculosis treatment intermittency in the continuation phase and mortality in HIV-positive persons receiving antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: Some tuberculosis (TB) treatment guidelines recommend daily TB treatment in both the intensive and continuation phases of treatment in HIV-positive persons to decrease the risk of relapse and acquired drug resistance. However, guidelines vary across countries, and treatment is given 7, 5, 3, or 2 days/week. The effect of TB treatment intermittency in the continuation phase on mortality in HIV-positive persons on antiretroviral therapy (ART), is not well-described. METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study among HIV-positive adults treated for TB between 2000 and 2018 and after enrollment into the Caribbean, Central, and South America network for HIV epidemiology (CCASAnet; Brazil, Chile, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico and Peru). All received standard TB therapy (2-month initiation phase of daily isoniazid, rifampin or rifabutin, pyrazinamide ± ethambutol) and continuation phase of isoniazid and rifampin or rifabutin, administered concomitantly with ART. Known timing of ART and TB treatment were also inclusion criteria. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods compared time to death between groups. Missing model covariates were imputed via multiple imputation. RESULTS: 2303 patients met inclusion criteria: 2003(87%) received TB treatment 5-7 days/week and 300(13%) 2-3 days/week in the continuation phase. Intermittency varied by site: 100% of patients from Brazil and Haiti received continuation phase treatment 5-7 days/week, followed by Honduras (91%), Peru (42%), Mexico (7%), and Chile (0%). The crude risk of death was lower among those receiving treatment 5-7 vs. 2-3 days/week (HR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.51-0.91; P = 0.008). After adjusting for age, sex, CD4, ART use at TB diagnosis, site of TB disease (pulmonary vs. extrapulmonary), and year of TB diagnosis, mortality risk was lower, but not significantly, among those treated 5-7 days/week vs. 2-3 days/week (HR 0.75, 95%CI 0.55-1.01; P = 0.06). After also stratifying by study site, there was no longer a protective effect (HR 1.42, 95%CI 0.83-2.45; P = 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: TB treatment 5-7 days/week was associated with a marginally decreased risk of death compared to TB treatment 2-3 days/week in the continuation phase in multivariable, unstratified analyses. However, little variation in TB treatment intermittency within country meant the results could have been driven by other differences between study sites. Therefore, randomized trials are needed, especially in heterogenous regions such as Latin America.

New Perspectives in Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is a chronic respiratory disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The common treatment regimens of tuberculosis are lengthy with adverse side effects, low patient compliance, and antimicrobial resistance. Drug delivery systems (DDSs) can overcome these limitations. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to summarize the latest DDSs for the treatment of tuberculosis. In the first section, the main pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic challenges posed by the innate properties of the drugs are put forth. The second section elaborates on the use of DDS to overcome the disadvantages of the current treatment of tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: We reviewed research articles published in the last 10 years. DDSs can improve the physicochemical properties of anti-tuberculosis drugs, improving solubility, stability, and bioavailability, with better control of drug release and can target alveolar macrophages. However, more pre-clinical studies and robust bio-relevant analyses are needed for DDSs to become a feasible option to treat patients and attract investors.

Fatores relacionados, tendência temporal e associação espacial do abandono de tratamento para tuberculose em Ribeirão Preto-SP / Related factors, time trend and spatial association of abandonment of treatment for tuberculosis in Ribeirão Preto-SP

Objetivou-se identificar fatores relacionados, classificar a tendência temporal e identificar áreas com associação espacial do abandono de tratamento para tuberculose em Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. Estudo ecológico; população composta pelos casos notificados entre 2006 a 2017. Realizou-se o teste qui-quadrado para identificar fatores relacionados. Para a tendência temporal, utilizou-se o método de Prais-Winsten para classificar a tendência temporal do evento e calculada sua porcentagem de variação anual. Para verificar associação espacial, utilizaram-se as técnicas G e Gi*. Foram notificados 146 casos de abandono do tratamento da doença no período; como fatores de risco foi identificado pessoas sem escolaridade, retratamentos pós-abandono e falência prévia; como proteção casos novos identificados pela busca ativa, não ter coinfecção Tuberculose-HIV e não fazer uso de álcool ou drogas. A taxa de abandono apresenta tendência crescente (APC=1,6%; IC95% 0.02­3.48). O estudo evidencia o aumento do abandono de tratamento, contrariando as políticas direcionadas pelo End TB Strategy.

The objective was to identify related factors, classify the time trend and identify areas with spatial association of abandonment of treatment for tuberculosis in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. Ecological study; population composed of the cases notified between 2006 and 2017. The chi-square test was performed to identify related factors. For the time trend, the Prais-Winsten method was used to classify the time trend of the event and calculate its percentage of annual variation. To verify spatial association the G and Gi* techniques were used. In the period, 146 cases of abandonment of the disease treatment were notified; as risk factors, people without education, retreatment after abandonment, and previous failure were identified; as protection, new cases were identified by active search, no Tuberculosis-HIV co-infection, and no alcohol or drug use. The abandonment rate shows an increasing trend (APC=1.6%; 95%CI 0.02­3.48). The study evidences the increase of abandonment of treatment, contradicting the policies directed by the End TB Strategy.

Efeitos contrastantes da vitamina D sobre a resposta imune inata e adquirida e seu impacto na recuperação da tuberculose / Contrasting effects of Vitamin D on innate and acquired immune responses and its impact on tuberculosis recover

A vitamina D é um hormônio essencial para o organismo, podendo ser obtida da dieta ou, principalmente, gerada pela pele após exposição à luz solar ultravioleta B. Na sua forma ativa (1,25(oH)2D) ela controla a absorção de cálcio e fósforo do intestino para a corrente sanguínea e participa de diversos processos celulares e fisiológicos. A ligação da 1,25(oH)2D ao receptor da vitamina D (VDr) presente em diversas células, como as células do sistema imunológico, induz a transcrição de genes que podem, por exemplo, modular a resposta imune inata e adquirida. A deficiência de vitamina D ou do VDR é associada a problemas de saúde como desordens esqueléticas, hipertensão, doenças cardiovasculares, diabetes mellitus, dislipidemias, doenças autoimunes e doenças infecciosas. Neste sentido, a suplementação com vitamina D tem sido proposta como uma possível medida preventiva, podendo ser aplicada em muitas patologias, em especial na tuberculose. Principal causa de morte por um único agente infeccioso, a tuberculose é responsável por cerca de 1,3 milhões de óbitos por ano no mundo. Publicações recentes apontam efeitos diversos da vitamina D na resposta imune inata e adquirida. A 1,25(oH)2D3 na presença do interferon (IFN)-γ é capaz de aumentar a atividade bactericida do macrófago contra o M. tuberculosis, aumentando a produção de peptídios antimicrobianos e estimulando a autofagia, favorecendo assim a lise de bacilos localizados em fagossomos. Por outro lado, a vitamina D em linfócitos T mostra efeito tolerogênico que favorece o controle de respostas inflamatórias excessivas. Neste trabalho de revisão são apresentados estudos recentes envolvendo efeitos da vitamina D na resposta imune inata e adquirida. Além disso, considerações sobre deficiência de vitamina D e maior risco de contrair tuberculose, e efeitos contrastantes da suplementação com vitamina D na prevenção e tratamento da TB, são discutidos.

Vitamin D is an essential hormone for the body, and can be obtained from diet or, mainly, generated by the skin after exposure to ultraviolet B sunlight. In its active form (1.25(oH)2D) it controls the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine into the bloodstream and participates in several cellular and physiological processes. Binding of 1,25(oH)2D to the Vitamin D receptor (VDr) present in several cells, such as cells of the immune system, induces transcription of genes that can, for example, modulate the innate and adaptive immune response. Deficiency of Vitamin D or VDr is associated with health problems such as skeletal disorders, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemias, autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases. In this sense, Vitamin D supplementation has been proposed as a possible preventive measure and can be applied in several pathologies, especially in tuberculosis. main cause of death by a single infectious agent, tuberculosis accounts for about 1.3 million deaths per year worldwide. recent publications point to contrasting functions of Vitamin D in the innate and acquired immune response. 1.25(oH)2D3 in the presence of interferon (IFN)-γ is capable of increasing the bactericidal activity of the macrophage against M. tuberculosis, increasing the production of antimicrobial peptides and stimulating autophagy, thus favoring the lysis of bacilli located in phagosomes. on the other hand, Vitamin D in T lymphocytes shows a tolerogenic effect that favors the control of excessive inflammatory responses. In this review, recent studies involving Vitamin D effects on the innate and acquired immune responses are presented. In addition, considerations about Vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of contracting tuberculosis, and contrasting effects of Vitamin D supplementation on the prevention and treatment of TB, are discussed.

Recomendaciones en el tratamiento de la tuberculosis sensible (según las Guías ATS/CDC/IDSA. 2016) / Guidelines for the treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis: according to official ATS, CDC and IDSA Guidelines 2016

During 2016, American Thoracic Society: ATS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC and Infectious Disease Society of America: IDSA jointly sponsored the development of Guidelines for the treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis using the P-I-C-O (Patient-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome) system to answer nine questions. The preferred regimen for treating adults with drug-susceptible tuberculosis, consider a 2 month intensive phase with isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), pyrazinamide (PZA), and ethambutol (EMB) followed by a continuation phase of 4 months of INH and RIF For patients who have cavitation on the initial chest radiograph and have positive cultures at completion of 2 months therapy, it is recommended to extend the continuation phase to prevent relapse. EMB can be discontinued as soon as susceptibility to INH and RIF is demonstrated. The guidelines also makes recommendations for the management in different clinical situations as in patients co-infected with HIV and in extrapulmonary tuberculosis. In tuberculous pericarditis no longer is recommended the routinely use of corticosteroids together with the anti TB treatment. In the case of tuberculous meningitis it is recommended the addition of corticosteroids and to extend the continuation phase to 9-12 months.

Durante el año 2016, la American Thoracic Society: ATS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC y la Infectious Disease Society of America: IDSA desarrollaron en conjunto una guía de recomendaciones para el tratamiento de la tuberculosis (TBC) sensible, empleando el sistema P-I-C-O (Patient-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome) para contestar 9 preguntas. El régimen de terapia farmacológica óptima para el paciente con TBC sensible considera una fase intensiva de 2 meses de duración con isoniacida (H), rifampicina (R), pirazinamida (Z) y etambutol (E) seguida de una fase de continuación por 4 meses de H y R. En los casos con cavitación en la radiografía de tórax inicial y en pacientes con cultivo de esputo positivo al segundo mes de tratamiento, se propone prolongar la fase de continuación con el propósito de reducir el riesgo de recaída. La guía también recomienda retirar el etambutol una vez que se haya demostrado la sensibilidad a H y R. Se hacen además recomendaciones de manejo en distintas situaciones clínicas como en pacientes co-infectados con VIH y en las TBC extrapulmonares. En la pericarditis TBC se sugiere no utilizar de forma rutinaria la terapia corticoesteroidal coadyuvante al tratamiento anti TBC. En el caso de la TBC meníngea se recomienda usar corticoesteroides y prolongar la quimioterapia durante la fase de continuación a 9 -12 meses.

Risk factors for differential outcome following directly observed treatment (DOT) of slum and non-slum tuberculosis patients: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Brazil's National Tuberculosis Control Program seeks to improve tuberculosis (TB) treatment in vulnerable populations. Slum residents are more vulnerable to TB due to a variety of factors, including their overcrowded living conditions, substandard infrastructure, and limited access to healthcare compared to their non-slum dwelling counterparts. Directly observed treatment (DOT) has been suggested to improve TB treatment outcomes among vulnerable populations, but the program's differential effectiveness among urban slum and non-slum residents is not known. METHODS: We retrospectively compared the impact of DOT on TB treatment outcome in residents of slum and non-slum census tracts in Rio de Janeiro reported to the Brazilian Notifiable Disease Database in 2010. Patient residential addresses were geocoded to census tracts from the 2010 Brazilian Census, which were identified as slum (aglomerados subnormais -AGSN) and non-slum (non-AGSN) by the Census Bureau. Homeless and incarcerated cases as well as those geocoded outside the city's limits were excluded from analysis. RESULTS: In 2010, 6,601 TB cases were geocoded within Rio de Janeiro; 1,874 (27.4 %) were residents of AGSN, and 4,794 (72.6 %) did not reside in an AGSN area. DOT coverage among AGSN cases was 35.2 % (n = 638), while the coverage in non-AGSN cases was 26.2 % (n = 1,234). Clinical characteristics, treatment, follow-up, cure, death and abandonment were similar in both AGSN and non-AGSN TB patients. After adjusting for covariates, AGSN TB cases on DOT had 1.67 (95 % CI: 1.17, 2.4) times the risk of cure, 0.61 (95 % CI: 0.41, 0.90) times the risk of abandonment, and 0.1 (95 % CI: 0.01, 0.77) times the risk of death from TB compared to non-AGSN TB cases not on DOT. CONCLUSION: While DOT coverage was low among TB cases in both AGSN and non-AGSN communities, it had a greater impact on TB cure rate in AGSN than in non-AGSN populations in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

In vitro antimicrobial efficacy of a fixed-dose combination of RHZE against M. tuberculosis

ABSTRACT The use of drugs in fixed-dose combination (FDC) is now recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. FDC uses different drugs against tuberculosis (TB) in a single tablet for phase-intensive therapeutic intervention. This therapy aims to optimize treatment, to prevent inappropriate use of drugs, and to prevent the emergence of new resistant strains. This study aims to evaluate the susceptibility of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis against rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. The antimicrobials were tested separately and in associations according to FDC. This was used for broth microdilution method, which was compared to the proportions method previously considered as the gold standard. In antimicrobials testing alone, several strains were resistant to one, two, or three drugs. However, when applied to association of drugs in FDC, there was no antimicrobial resistance. The results strengthen the FDC's concept, which aims to unite the four anti-TB drugs to combat bacterial resistance.

Nuevas perspectivas terapéuticas en tuberculosis / New perspectives in tuberculosis treatment

To advance in the control and elimination of tuberculosis (TB) we must achieve a high level of effectiveness in the prevention of TB in populations infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Latent TB prevention success with current therapies (single isoniazid or in combination with rifampicin) is close to 60%. We also must offer a high level of treatment success in first-line drugs sensitive TB patients. With currently available drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide) treatment success should reach at least 95%. Drug side reactions together with the lengthen treatment of infection and disease (6 months) decrease the compliance to these therapies. In Multi-Drug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB), therapies are even longer (20 months according to WHO's recommendation) and much less tolerated, with rates of success under 50%. New trials for latent TB using rifapentin and isoniacid; combined fixed-dose offirst-line drugs in sensible TB, and the addition of new drugs (fluorquinolones, bedaquiline, delamanid and linezolid) in multi-drug resistant TB, together with shorter regimens of 12 months duration which include Clofazimine (experience in Cameroon with modification of a 9 months trial previously used in Bangladesh showing 89% cure) are discussed in this article.

Para el control y eliminación de la tuberculosis se debe lograr un alto grado de eficacia en la prevención del desarrollo de tuberculosis en la población infectada por Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Esta prevención, con las terapias actuales de la tuberculosis latente (isoniazida sola o combinada con rifampicina), es cercana al 60%. También debemos alcanzar una alta tasa de curación para los enfermos con tuberculosis sensible a los fármacos de primera línea (vírgenes a tratamiento). Con los fármacos actualmente disponibles (isoniazida, rifampicina, etambutol y pirazinamida) esta curación debería alcanzar a no menos del 95%. La regular tolerancia y reacciones colaterales de los fármacos y el largo tiempo que demandan las terapias de la infección y de la enfermedad (6 meses) atenta contra su adherencia. En el caso de la Tuberculosis Multi-Drogo-Resistente (TB-MDR), los tratamientos son aún más prolongados (20 meses según recomienda la OMS actualmente) y menos tolerados, siendo sus tasas de curación inferiores a 50%. Se analizan nuevos esquemas para el tratamiento de la tuberculosis latente usando rifapentina asociada a isoniacida; dosis fijas combinadas de fármacos de primera línea para tuberculosis sensibles, y asociación de fármacos antiguos y nuevos (fluoroquinolonas, bedaquilina, delamanid y linezolid) para el tratamiento de las tuberculosis multirresistentes. También se presentan nuevos esquemas acortados, de 12 meses de duración, que incluyen clofazimina (experiencia en Camerún con modificación del esquema de 9 meses usado previamente en Bangladesh, con tasas de curación de 89%).

Assessment of children exposed to adult pulmonary tuberculosis in Cali, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of uniform criteria for the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis (TB) in children in Cali, Colombia. Addressing TB in children is a challenge in this setting, under both programmatic and research conditions. OBJECTIVES: To facilitate the diagnostic assessment of TB in a paediatric cohort of TB household contacts. METHODS: A diagnostic and management algorithm (DMA) was used to assess children exposed to adult TB cases, according to clinical and epidemiological findings and under programmatic conditions. On the basis of diagnostic tests, cases were classified as TB exposure, TB infection, suspected TB, possible TB or confirmed TB and then submitted to a management plan. This was a prospective pilot study nested within a national cohort study of the transmission dynamics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, undertaken in Colombia during 2005-2008. RESULTS: During 24 months of follow-up, 54 of 217 children met the criteria for assessment by DMA, 18 of whom (33%) were considered to be TB incident cases (new TB cases among household contacts). The main clinical findings were failure to thrive and cough lasting >21 days. Only one case was smear-positive and culture-confirmed TB. TB treatment was given to 16 children and they demonstrated clinical and radiographic resolution at follow-up. Conducting the study under programmatic conditions demonstrated barriers to accessing competent radiological evaluation, correct interpretation of the tuberculin skin test, and proper specimen collection. CONCLUSION: Structured assessment using DMA facilitated the detection of incident TB cases. The study identified potential barriers to addressing childhood TB in Cali.

A importância das ações programáticas de saúde no controle da tuberculose: experiência de um serviço de atenção primária à saúde em Porto Alegre, Rio Grandedo Sul, Brasil / The importance of programmatic health actions in tuberculosis control: experience of a primary health care service in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

INTRODUÇÃO: A tuberculose merece especial atenção dos profissionais de saúde e da sociedade. Entretanto, os serviços de saúde não estão organizados para atender esses pacientes, e a prevalência da doença permanece alta no país. O objetivo deste estudo é demonstrar o papel da Atenção Primária na melhora dos indicadores da Tuberculose a partir de ações programáticas estruturadas. MÉTODOS: Dados de pacientes com diagnóstico de TB vinculados à Unidade Básica de Saúde do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, atendidos nos serviços de saúde do município, foram analisados e comparados antes (2002 a 2008) e depois (2009 a 2012) da implantação de um Programa de Controle de Tuberculose. Os indicadores analisados têm base nas metas estabelecidas pela Organização Mundial da Saúde. RESULTADOS: Cento e quarenta pacientes tiveram Tuberculose entre 2002 e 2012: 94 no período pré-implantação do Programa e 46 após. Com o Programa, o número anual de sintomáticos respiratórios rastreados e de pacientes diagnosticados com Tuberculose cresceu. Aumentou o diagnóstico de Tuberculose nos serviços de atenção primária de 4,3% (n = 4) para 39,1% (n = 18), (p < 0,001); e houve melhora das taxas de cura (de 78,2% para 85,7%) e abandono (de 9,3% para 9,1%). CONCLUSÃO: Nosso estudo demonstrou que após a implantação do Programa de Controle de TB no Serviço de APS do HCPA houve melhora nos índices de diagnóstico da doença, nas taxas de cura e abandono, tendo sido atingida a meta de cura preconizada pelo Ministério da Saúde

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis deserves special attention from health professionals and society. However, health services are not organized to attend these patients, and the prevalence of the disease remains high in the country. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the role of primary care in improving tuberculosis indicators with structured programmatic actions METHODS: Data from patients diagnosed with tuberculosis linked to the Primary Health Care Service of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, attended in the health care services of the city, were analyzed and compared before (2002-2008) and after (2009-2012) the implementation of a Tuberculosis Control Program. The indicators were analyzed based on the goals established by WHO. RESULTS: One hundred and forty patients had tuberculosis between 2002 and 2012, 94 before the implementation of the Program and 46 after. With the Program, the annual number of tracked respiratory symptomatic patients and patients diagnosed with tuberculosis increased. Also, the diagnosis of tuberculosis in primary care services increased from 4.3% (n = 4) to 39.1% (n = 18) (p < 0.001); and there was an improvement in cure (78.2% to 85.7%) and therapy dropout (9.3% to 9.1%) rates. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that, after implementation of the Tuberculosis Control Program in the Primary Health Care Service of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, there was improvement in diagnosis of the disease, cure and treatment dropout rates, which have reached the cure rate goal established by the Ministry of Health