Curriculum · Public Health and Communicable Diseases
Drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR and XDR)
What it is
Two names have to be kept apart, and they are built one on the other.
- MDR is resistance to isoniazid plus rifampin.
- XDR is MDR plus resistance to fluoroquinolones plus at least one of the injectable second line drugs: amikacin, kanamycin or capreomycin.
Causes and risk
The risk factors are three:
- Contact with a drug-resistant TB case.
- From, or prolonged travel to, an endemic area of MDR TB.
- Prior TB treatment, especially if non-adherent with treatment.