How is MDR-TB treated?


The recommended treatment combines all first-line drugs to which the strain is still sensitive, an injectable drug and one of several second-line drugs, including quinolones, prothionamide/ethionamide, cycloserine and linezolid.Treatment can last up to 2 years and is often accompanied by more or less severe side-effects.

MDR-TB can represent a huge financial burden to national TB programmes, costing 10 to 100 times as much as usual TB treatment. This may put the management of other patients in danger if resources are limited.

How can MDR-TB be avoided?

  1. Treat the source of the problem. Prescribing the correct drugs from the beginning and offering supervised treatment will increase the chance of cure and reduce the risk of symptoms returning.
  2. Detect and treat MDR-TB patients with appropriate drug combinations. This is achieved with drug sensitivity tests using second-line drugs in an appropriate combination, and managing side-effects and supporting the patient until they are cured.
  3. Prevent the transmission of MDR-TB to other individuals by keeping the patient in isolation until they no longer show symptoms.

 

 

For further information please download the European Lung Foundation factsheet on MDR-TB:


 ELF Factsheet

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