Category: International EM
Keywords: Tuberculosis, infectious disease, drug resistance, multidrug resistant tuberculosis (PubMed Search)
Posted: 1/21/2015 by Jon Mark Hirshon, PhD, MPH, MD
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As noted previously (UMEM Pearl of 1/7/2015), tuberculosis (TB) is a major infectious disease that occurs worldwide. Strains of tuberculosis can be resistant to one or more anti-tuberculosis medications. TB strains resistant to at least one medication have been found in all surveyed countries.
What is multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB)?
Treatment of MDR TB
Bottom line:
As noted previously, in your emergency department have a high index of suspicion for TB and MDR TB in patients with an appropriate risk profile.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs104/en/
http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/drtb/default.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/drtb/mdrtb.htm