[Tuberculosis - historical development, current status, future prospects].

Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes, if not the leading cause of death in human history. Worldwide TB still belongs to the ten most frequent causes of death and represents one of the most urgent public health problems globally. In Germany as in almost all industrialised countries, the incidence and mortality has been continuously declining but globally the situation is worsening dramatically due to HIV coinfection and the increase of polyresistant TB strains. Only rapid and internationally concerted action with the cooperation of the affected countries and combined with intensified research efforts into new diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines will be able to prevent a development that will no longer be manageable even with 21st century technology.