Treatment for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Uganda

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) disease is a disease in humans caused by mycobacteria tuberculosis complex which comprises eight distinct but closely related organisms – M. bovis, M. caprae, M. africanum, M. microti, M. pinnipedii, M. mungi, M. orygis and M. canetti1. The most common and important agent of human disease is M. tuberculosis. The disease is spread from person to person through air. It affects the lungs and other parts of the body such as the brain, kidneys or spine. TB is treatable and curable. However, if not properly treated, persons with TB can die or suffer co-morbid conditions that grossly impair their economic productivity. The bacteria that causes TB can become more resistant to treatment when not properly managed, leading to drugresistant TB (DR-TB). Resistance leads to; (1) Multidrugresistant TB (MDR-TB) or (2) extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB). MDR-TB is caused by TB bacteria that are resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, which are the two most potent TB drugs while 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 one of the three injectable second-line drugs (amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin)2,3.