Tobacco and tuberculosis: could we improve tuberculosis outcomes by helping patients to stop smoking?

Tuberculosis disease continues to represent a global threat, with an estimated 9 000 000 incident cases and 1 500 000 deaths in 2013 attributable to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection [1]. Although important progress has been made in the control of the disease from a clinical ( i.e. improved clinical outcomes) and public health ( i.e. reduced M. tuberculosis transmission in high-, middle- and low-income countries) perspective, the epidemic continues to be fuelled by the persistence of long-lasting triggers. Strengthening smoking control measures may impact on our progress towards tuberculosis elimination