Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of COVID-19 on the morbidity and mortality associated with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB).

METHODS

A comprehensive review of articles published in international databases since December 2019 was conducted. The findings are presented in a narrative format, supplemented with tables, diagrams, and a map created using ArcGIS software.

RESULTS

Thirty-five studies were selected, highlighting the significant consequences of COVID-19 on TB and DR-TB treatment progress. Four main thematic areas were identified: Clinical and epidemiological aspects of the interaction between COVID-19 and DR-TB; Management of physical resources and the team; Challenges and circumstances; Perspectives and possibilities.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly negatively impacted the control of long-standing diseases like TB, particularly in the context of morbidity and mortality related to DR-TB.

MeSH

Morbidity, Mortality, Nursing, Tuberculosis, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Covid-19

Cited by

• Nuances in the global impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis control efforts: An updated review. Medicine (Baltimore), 2025
• Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis detection and treatment in healthcare facilities across Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A comprehensive mixed-method, multi-center study. PLoS One, 2024
• Trends and forecast of drug-resistant tuberculosis: a global perspective from the GBD study 2021. Front Public Health, 2025
• Short- and long-term increased risk of all-cause mortality in a tuberculosis cohort attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a time-dependent survival analysis in Chile. Lancet Reg Health Am, 2025
• RpoB mutation patterns in Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: a Jiangxi Province study, 2021-2023. Sci Rep, 2025