Directly observed treatment, short-course

Directly observed treatment, short-course is the name given to the tuberculosis (TB) control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization. According to WHO, "The most cost-effective way to stop the spread of TB in communities with a high incidence is by curing it. The best curative method for TB is known as DOTS." DOTS has five main components:Government commitment Case detection by sputum smear microscopy among symptomatic patients self-reporting to health services Standardized treatment regimen of six to eight months for at least all confirmed sputum smear positive cases, with directly observed therapy (DOT) for at least the initial two months A regular, uninterrupted supply of all essential anti-TB drugs A standardized recording and reporting system that allows assessment of treatment results