how does drug resistance develop during the course of treatment for tb

by Helene Maggio 10 min read

Drug-resistant TB can occur when the drugs used to treat TB are misused or mismanaged. This may happen when: n A patient misses doses or does not complete the full course of treatment n

Sometimes drug-resistant TB occurs when bacteria become resistant to the drugs used to treat TB. This means that the drug can no longer kill the TB bacteria. Drug-resistant TB (DR TB) is spread the same way that drug-susceptible TB is spread. TB is spread through the air from one person to another.

Full Answer

What causes drug resistance in tuberculosis (TB) (TB)?

How drug resistance emerges as a result of poor compliance during short course chemotherapy for tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis1998;2:10-5. [PubMed] 9.

How is drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) treated?

Treatment of suspected drug-resistant TB. The “standardized” approach to treatment of suspected resistant TB is to design a regimen based on local drug surveillance data. The advantage of such a standardized approach is that it prevents major errors in number, dosages, and duration of TB drugs.

How is drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) spread?

Drug-resistant TB (DR TB) is spread the same way that drug-susceptible TB is spread. TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

What is the meaning of drug-resistant tuberculosis?

Drug-resistant tuberculosis definitions Monodrug-resistant TB: TB caused by organisms that show resistance to a single anti-TB drug (eg, isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, or pyrazinamide). Isoniazid-resistant TB: TB caused by organisms that show resistance to isoniazid (rifampin susceptible).

How does TB drug resistance develop?

Drug resistance in TB remains a man-made phenomenon. It emerges as a result of spontaneous gene mutations in M. tuberculosis that render the bacteria resistant to the most commonly used anti-TB drugs. Among the reasons for this, the non-compliance with the treatment regimens is signaled as the first cause.

What factors contribute to the spread of drug-resistant TB?

The spread of drug resistance stems from many factors: poor public health infrastructure (e.g., delays in the diagnosis of drug resistance, inconsistencies in TB medication supply), inadequate treatment (e.g., unmonitored therapy, nonadherence, incorrect use of anti-TB agents), inefficient infection control, and the ...

What causes drug resistance?

Microbes also may get genes from each other, including genes that make the microbe drug resistant. Bacteria multiply by the billions. Bacteria that have drug-resistant DNA may transfer a copy of these genes to other bacteria. Non-resistant bacteria receive the new DNA and become resistant to drugs.

How do you know if TB is drug-resistant?

Molecular DSTs have been developed to offer an advantage over conventional phenotypic tests that are more time-consuming. These tests can be used to diagnose TB through amplification of nucleic acids. They detect drug resistance by identifying genetic mutations in specific genes.

What Is Tuberculosis (TB)?

Tuberculosis (TB)(https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/tb.htm) is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to per...

What Is Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB)?

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) is caused by an organism that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, the two most potent TB drugs. These...

What Is Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB)?

Extensively drug resistant TB (XDR TB) is a rare type of MDR TB that is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least...

How Does Drug Resistance Happen?

Resistance to anti-TB drugs can occur when these drugs are misused or mismanaged. Examples include when patients do not complete their full course...

Who Is at Risk For Getting MDR TB?

Drug resistance is more common in people who: 1. Do not take their TB medicine regularly 2. Do not take all of their TB medicine as told by their d...

How Can MDR TB Be Prevented?

The most important thing a person can do to prevent the spread of MDR TB is to take all of their medications exactly as prescribed by their health...

Is There A Vaccine to Prevent TB?

Yes, there is a vaccine for TB disease called Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)(https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/prevention/bcg.htm). It...

What Should I Do If I Think I Have been Exposed to Someone With TB Disease?

If you think you have been exposed to someone with TB disease, you should contact your doctor or local health department about getting a TB skin te...

What Are The Symptoms of TB Disease?

The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of th...

Why is XDR TB so resistant to TB drugs?

Because XDR TB is resistant to the most potent TB drugs, patients are left with treatment options that are much less effective. XDR TB is of special concern for persons with HIV infection or other conditions that can weaken the immune system.

How to prevent MDR TB?

Another way to prevent getting MDR TB is to avoid exposure to known MDR TB patients in closed or crowded places such as hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters. If you work in hospitals or health-care settings where TB patients are likely to be seen, you should consult infection control or occupational health experts.

What is MDR TB?

What is multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB)? Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) is caused by an organism that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, the two most potent TB drugs. These drugs are used to treat all persons with TB disease.

What are the symptoms of TB in the lungs?

The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs may also include coughing, chest pain, and coughing up blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected. If you have these symptoms, you should contact your doctor or local health department.

What to do if you think you have been exposed to someone with TB?

If you think you have been exposed to someone with TB disease, you should contact your doctor or local health department about getting a TB skin test or TB blood test. And tell the doctor or nurse when you spent time with this person.

How long does TB float in the air?

These bacteria can float in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB bacteria can become infected. TB is not spread by. Shaking someone’s hand. Sharing food or drink. Touching bed linens or toilet seats. Sharing toothbrushes.

Can TB be curable?

TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. In most cases, TB is treatable and curable; however, persons with TB can die if they do not get proper treatment.

What is XDR TB?

XDR TB is a rare type of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. It is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, and to second-line treatments including any one of the fluoroquinolones and at least one of three injectable drugs (amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin).

Is TB a disease?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. In most cases, TB is treatable and curable; however, TB can be deadly without proper treatment.

Is there a shortage of TB drugs?

Until recently, these shortages primarily involved second-line TB drugs, which are critical for treating drug-resistant cases. In a 2010 survey, 81 percent of health departments with MDR TB cases reported difficulty obtaining these second-line treatments.4 However, in recent years, isoniazid, a first line drug used in the treatment of TB disease and latent TB infection, was also in short supply.5

Is TB resistant to fluoroquinolone?

TB that is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin among first-line drugs, resistant to any fluoroquinolone and at least one second-line injectable drug. Treatment options are very limited and outcomes are often worse.

Is MDR TB curable?

TB that is resistant to at least two of the best and most important anti-TB drugs (isoniazid and rifampin). While treatment is complicated, MDR TB is often curable.

Can TB make you sick?

Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. Most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected are able to fight the disease and stop the bacteria from growing. This is called latent TB infection. People with latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread the bacteria to others.

What are the shortages of TB drugs?

Until recently, these shortages primarily involved second-line TB drugs, which are critical for treating drug-resistant cases. In a 2010 survey, 81 percent of health departments with MDR TB cases reported difficulty obtaining these second-line treatments.4 However, in recent years, isoniazid, a first line drug used in the treatment of TB disease and latent TB infection, was also in short supply.5

What is XDR TB?

XDR TB is a rare type of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. It is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, and to second-line treatments including any one of the fluoroquinolones and at least one of three injectable drugs (amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin).

Is MDR TB curable?

TB that is resistant to at least two of the best and most important anti-TB drugs (isoniazid and rifampin). While treatment is complicated, MDR TB is often curable.

Is TB a disease?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. In most cases, TB is treatable and curable; however, TB can be deadly without proper treatment.

Is TB resistant to fluoroquinolone?

TB that is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin among first-line drugs, resistant to any fluoroquinolone and at least one second-line injectable drug. Treatment options are very limited and outcomes are often worse.

What is the global burden of MDR-TB?

The global burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has recently increased by an annual rate of more than 20%.

Can phenotypic drug resistance be predicted?

Phenotypic drug resistance can now often, but with variable sensitivity, be predicted by molecular drug susceptibility testing based on whole genome sequencing, which in the future could become an affordable method for the guidance of treatment decisions, especially in high-burden/resource-limited settings.

Does bedaquiline help with MDR?

More recently, MDR-TB treatment outcomes have dramatically improved with the use of bedaquiline-based regimens. Ongoing clinical trials with novel and repurposed drugs will potentially further improve cure-rates, and may substantially decrease the duration of MDR-TB treatment necessary to achieve relapse-free cure.

Is MDR TB a successful disease?

According to the World Health Organization approximately only half of all patients treated for MDR-TB achieved a successful outcome. For many years, patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) have received standardized treatment regimens, thereby accelerating the development of MDR-TB through drug-specific resistance amplification.