One of the biggest problems in Tuberculosis (TB) therapy nowadays is that patients have to take antibiotics for up to 9 months. As many patients feel better before this time, they prematurely stop their treatment, leaving pools of the most drug-resistant M. tuberculosis in their lungs. This contributes to the emergence of complete drug resistance in future patients.
In the past few years, strains of drug resistant Mtb have become prevalent. In fact, resistance is so wide spread that it is now being classified as multi-drug resistant (MDR-TB) and extreme-drug resistant (XDR-TB). Two of the world’s most populous countries, India and China, account for more than 50% of the world’s MDR-TB cases.
Recent reports have also confirmed a new strain of existing Mtb which is completely untreatable and has been designated as Totally drug resistance TB (TDR-TB). Indeed, strains of Mtb have even evolved resistance to all major available anti-TB drugs. India (2012) is the third country in which a total drug-resistant form of the TB has emerged, following cases documented in Italy in 2007 and Iran in 2009. There is a need for a more readily available treatment that are effective against both sensitive and drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis is evident.
Sign and symptoms of TB
Cough for three weeks or more
Fever, especially rising in the evening and night sweats
Pain in the chest
Tiredness or weakness
Loss of appetite and weight
Coughing up of blood
Who are vulnerable to TB
Family and close contacts of the patients
The elderly
People with low income
People with poor access to health care
People who inject illicit drugs
People who work in nursing homes/prisons/shelters for homeless or drug treatment center.
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