[Tuberculosis--recurrence of a forgotten infectious disease?]

Since 1985, more tuberculosis cases are being registered in the neighbouring European countries and in the USA. This is caused by HIV-infections, social problems (loss of work and living space as well as alcohol and drug dependence) and the high tuberculosis morbidity of emigrants from poor countries and war-zones. Resistance problems and nosocomial tuberculosis infections are gaining more significance besides the limited deficiencies in medical-training and the retrograde financial resources in prevention. In Germany, the Tb-incidence has been stagnant since 1991. It is a lot lower in East Germany in comparison to the Western parts of Germany. Since 1991 more and more Tb.-cases have been observed in the East-Berlin districts while the morbidity has decreased in West-Berlin.