Managing drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis: 2014 update

The global rise in multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a stark reminder that the battle against this airborne disease is far from over. Extensively-drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) was first reported in 2006 in South Africa (1). All 44 patients who were tested for XDR-TB were also found to be co-infected with HIV (1). Approximately 450,000 HIV/TB cases have been reported worldwide (2012) and less than 20% of patients are currently receiving adequate treatment. The World Health Organization suggests treating patients with ≥ 4 antibiotics to which TB is sensitive for a period of 20 months. While progress has been made in tailoring treatments to specific regions, challenges remain in devising effective, safe, easy-to-use, shorter therapies that result in sustained cures and educating patients about the need for optimal adherence in each high-burden country. I have summarized some of the latest tuberculosis trends and treatment perspectives here.

Reference

1.            Gandhi NR, Moll A, Sturm AW, et al. Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis as a cause of death in patients co-infected with tuberculosis and HIV in a rural area of South Africa. Lancet. 2006;368(9547):1575-1580.