Tuberculosis is monitored in the Czech Republic through the Tuberculosis register, based on physicians' reporting, and through the Information database of bacillary tuberculosis based on laboratory reporting. Distribution of tuberculosis in the Czech Republic is uneven in age and sex as well as geographically. Gene-rally the highest incidence rates are in the elderly (particularly for females) however men in working age are considerably affected. After several years of stagnation we háve observed a steadily decreasing inci¬dence over the past five years together with an increase in the proportion of foreigners among TB cases. The proportion of foreigners has risen to 15 % over the past decade. MDR TB is at a very low level in the indi-genous population, oscillating around 1 %. TB incidence in CR is at a favourable level comparable with Western European figures. Although the total incidence is decreasing, we are not as successful in reducing sputum smear positive TB incidence, which presents a significant source for further cases.

        Key words: tuberculosis, epidemiology, Czech Republic, trends