Integration of AI and ML in Tuberculosis (TB) Management: From Diagnosis to Drug Discovery

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite the improvements in diagnostic techniques, the accuracy of TB diagnosis is still low. In recent years, the development of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened up new possibilities in diagnosing and treating TB with high accuracy compared to traditional methods. Traditional diagnostic techniques, such as sputum smear microscopy, culture tests, and chest X-rays, are time-consuming, with less sensitivity for the detection of TB in patients. Due to the new developments in AI, advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques have been developed with high accessibility, speed, and accuracy. AI, including various specific methodologies, is becoming vital in managing TB. Machine learning (ML) methodologies, such as support vector machines (SVMs) and random forests (RF), alongside deep learning (DL) technologies, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for image analysis, are employed to analyze diverse patient data, including medical images and biomarkers, to enhance the accuracy and speed of tuberculosis diagnosis. This study summarized the benefits and drawbacks of both traditional and AI-driven TB diagnosis, highlighting how AI can support traditional techniques to increase early detection, lower misdiagnosis, and strengthen international TB control initiatives.