According to the World Health Organization (WHO),

South Africa (SA) was one of five countries with the highest TB incidence in 2011, estimated at 500 000 new TB cases and approximately 25 000 deaths.[1] In 2009 the South African National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) released new national tuberculosis management guidelines for healthcare personnel and managers.[2] The guidelines include treatment strategies suggested by the WHO and recommend that all patients receive directly observed therapy (DOT) for the entire treatment course. However, despite NTP efforts to improve access to treatment and treatment adherence among TB patients, the proportion with successful treatment outcomes remains low (79% v. target of 86 % cured or completed treatment) and mortality rates remain high (49/100 000).[1] Patients in whom treatment fails or who do not complete treatment are at risk for acquisition of drug-resistant TB, additional morbidity, and mortality