Tuberculosis Management: A Narrative Review of Public Health, Nursing, and Radiological Roles

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a paramount global health challenge, exacerbated by drug resistance, co-infection with HIV, and social determinants of health. Effective management requires an integrated, multidisciplinary approach, though the distinct contributions of key pillars are often siloed in the literature. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on the critical and interconnected roles of public health, nursing, and radiology in the TB care cascade. Nursing constitutes the operational backbone, delivering patient-centered care, education, and advocacy, and ensuring treatment adherence through Directly Observed Therapy (DOT). Radiology offers essential diagnostic and monitoring capabilities, with chest X-ray as the frontline tool, computed tomography for complex cases, and advanced modalities like MRI and PET/CT for extrapulmonary and complicated disease. The analysis reveals that these roles are not sequential but deeply synergistic. Public health guidelines direct nursing practice and diagnostic algorithms; nursing ensures the implementation of public health strategies and facilitates radiological follow-up; and radiological findings inform both individual patient management and population-level epidemiology. The fight against TB is hindered by a lack of integration. Optimizing TB control and moving closer to global End TB targets necessitates breaking down professional silos and fostering robust collaboration between public health, nursing, and radiology. Future efforts must focus on strengthening interprofessional education, investing in technological advancements like AI-assisted radiology, and empowering nurses as leaders of patient-centered care. A truly integrated, holistic model is the cornerstone of successful tuberculosis management.