XDR TB stands for Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis.
In more detail, XDR-TB is a form of tuberculosis caused by bacteria that are resistant to nearly all of the most effective anti-TB drugs. This means the bacteria can grow and spread even when patients are treated with standard TB medications.
Here's a breakdown:
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Tuberculosis (TB): A contagious infection that usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. It's caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
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Drug-Resistant TB: TB bacteria become resistant when antibiotics are misused or mismanaged. This can happen when patients do not complete their full course of treatment, when healthcare providers prescribe the wrong treatment, or when drugs are of poor quality.
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Extensively Drug-Resistant TB (XDR-TB): XDR-TB is a more severe form of drug-resistant TB. It is defined as TB that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin (the two most powerful first-line anti-TB drugs), plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three second-line injectable drugs (amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin).
XDR-TB is a serious public health threat because it requires more complex treatments and is associated with higher mortality rates than drug-susceptible TB or even multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Treatment options for XDR-TB are limited, and outcomes are often poor. Prevention of XDR-TB relies on preventing the development of drug resistance in the first place, which includes ensuring proper TB treatment and infection control measures.
