Treating Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
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Topic Overview
People infected with tuberculosis (TB) bacteria that are
antibiotic-resistant have what is called drug-resistant tuberculosis. There are different types of drug-resistant TB.
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Mono-resistant TB happens when the bacteria don't respond to one first-line drug.
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Multidrug-resistant TB happens when the bacteria don't respond to at least the two strongest TB drugs (isoniazid and rifampin).
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Poly-resistant TB happens when the bacteria don't respond to more than one first line drug other than isoniazid and rifampin.
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Extensively drug-resistant TB happens when the bacteria are resistant to isoniazid, rifampin, and several other medicines used to treat TB. This is rare.
People with drug-resistant tuberculosis need special treatment programs. Treatment usually involves several medicines.
- The choice of medicines depends on the results of
sensitivity testing .
- It is very important to take every dose of medicine.
So
directly observed therapy (DOT) usually is done.
During DOT, a health professional watches you take every dose of
medicine.
- Treatment is continued until TB bacteria can no longer be
found in two
sputum samples taken a month apart. This may take 18
months or longer in people with
multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
Some TB bacteria have become resistant to all of the antibiotics that are commonly used to treat TB. This is sometimes called totally resistant tuberculosis (TDR-TB).
footnote 1
A TB infection of this type is very difficult to treat.
References
Citations
-
Cegielski P, et al. (2012). Challenges and controversies in defining totally drug-resistant tuberculosis. Emerging Infectious Diseases [Internet], November. Available online: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/18/11/12-0526_article.htm.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer
R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology
W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Current as ofNovember 22, 2017
Current as of:
November 22, 2017
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
&
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
&
R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology
&
W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Cegielski P, et al. (2012). Challenges and controversies in defining totally drug-resistant tuberculosis. Emerging Infectious Diseases [Internet], November. Available online: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/18/11/12-0526_article.htm.