Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
As if Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) was not bad enough, we now are facing X-tremely Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB).
The best drugs for treatment of TB are the standard first line regimen including:-
- Isoniazid
- Rifampacin
- Pyrazinamide
- Ethambutol and
- Streptomycin
MDR-TB is resistant to at least 2 first line drugs including Isoniazid and Rifampicin. In contrast XDR-TB (Extensive or extremely drug resistant TB) is resistant to both 1st line and 2nd line drugs.
The World Health Organization announced that the so-called XDR-TB is particularly prominent in Eastern Europe and Asia. Nearly one in five cases of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in Latvia, for example, fit the criteria for XDR-TB. In the U.S. about 4% of multi-drug resistant TB are actually XDR-TB.
Resistance to anti-TB drugs in populations is a phenomenon that occurs primarily due to poorly managed TB care. Problems include incorrect drug prescribing practices by providers, poor quality drugs or erratic supply of drugs, and also patient non-adherence.
Reference - WHO, Time Global Health Update
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November 19th, 2006 at 4:36 pm
I love browsing medical-related blogs - does that mean I’m a hypochondriac?
In this super scientific age in which we live it’s very enjoyable to read about our constant battle to repel disease and repair its ravages.
This blog makes for very interesting and compelling reading and certainly helps me to stay abreast of the latest happenings in the medical world.
Thanks for that and best wishes.
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October 5th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
[...] is treatable and preventable. Inadequate treatment in many countries is leading to the emergence of extremely drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) for which there is no effective treatment available. XDR-TB in most cases leads to death [...]