Etiology, Prevalence, and the Homeless: A Population at

At one time, tuberculosis (TB) was considered a disease of the past. But as variant strands of the infectious bacteria evolve, the general population becomes of increasingly greater risk. Select subsets of the population are at an even greater peril. Homeless individuals, without permanent dormancy, living in sometimes-crowded shelters, and with other persons infected, find themselves in one of the highest risk groups. This exposition will explore the complex relationships that exist placing the homeless in a high-risk group. Issues of pathophysiology, prevalence, etiology, emerging drug resistance, and future treatment trends and options will all be examined. Tuberculosis and the Homeless 3 Tuberculosis and the Homeless: A Population at Ris