부산대학교 도서관

Tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, kills 1.4 million people each year. Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe manifestation of disease caused by M.tuberculosis with high mortality, and disabling neurological sequelae common among those who survive. Early diagnosis and initiation of antituberculous chemotherapy are the strongest prognostic factors for a successful outcome, yet diagnosis of TBM remains challenging, with conventional microbiological techniques for detection of M.tuberculosis either slow or insensitive. Standardised treatment regimens use the same drugs and dosages as pulmonary TB, despite the variability in CSF penetration of these drugs. Treatment regimens for TBM have never been optimized through randomized controlled trials and little is known about the long-term outcomes of those who survive. In addition children with TBM may require different dosages to adults.