<s>[INST] What can be done to combat the spread of TB? [/INST] The most important way to control TB is to find all cases of active TB disease and make
sure that these are treated properly. Five basic elements are needed: political
commitment to increased and sustained TB control; access to high quality laboratory
testing for TB; easy access to standard TB treatment, with support to patients to stay on
their treatment; an uninterrupted supply of drugs; and standardized recording and
reporting systems that allow monitoring of treatment of all patients. These are the basic
elements of the DOTS strategy for TB control, which form the basis of the Stop TB
strategy http://www.who.int/tb/strategy/en/. The Stop TB strategy includes the five
components of DOTS and has been expanded to focus on a number of additional needs:
addressing the interaction between TB and HIV, drug resistant TB, and other challenges;
contributing to health systems' strengthening; engaging all care providers; empowering
people with tuberculosis and communities; and enabling and promoting research. Source: UNAIDS. Link: https://data.unaids.org/pub/factsheet/2006/tb_hiv_qa.pdf. Field: Lung Disease. Disease: Tuberculosis </s>