COVID-19 and tuberculosis in South Africa: A dangerous combination

S Afr Med J. 2020 Mar 27;110(5):341-342. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i5.14747.

Abstract

There has been much speculation during the past week about the catastrophe that awaits once coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) establishes itself in the poorest communities of South Africa (SA) and, importantly, in informal settlements. Evidence to date suggests that COVID-19 is efficiently passed from infected individuals via large droplets and hard-surface fomites.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • Coinfection / epidemiology*
  • Continuity of Patient Care
  • Coronavirus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections* / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections* / therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Pandemics* / prevention & control
  • Patient Care Management* / methods
  • Patient Care Management* / trends
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / therapy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • South Africa / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* / therapy