Topic: Is it possible to eradicate tuberculosis? Foreword

My introductory remarks are aimed to recall the milestones of the control of tuberculosis during this finishing century. Prophylactic measures to prevent the spread of the tubercle bacillus, generalization of institutional treatment, the use of pneumothorax and BCG vaccination contributed to the decline of the case fatality rate of tuberculosis. The development of an active drug treatment significantly speeded up the decreases in the morbidity rate and in the risk of infection among the young generations. These decreases are related to the decline of the transmission of the tubercle bacillus in the community and may foresee the eradication of tuberculosis in the developed countries. However, the rise in tuberculosis incidence in developing countries caused in part by the HIV pandemics, the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, the deterioration of tuberculosis control measures, and the increase in poverty make the eradication of tuberculosis in the world not a reasonable goal for the present generations.