What Is Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR TB)?
If you do not take your medicine as your doctor or nurse tells you, the TB bacteria may become resistant to a certain medicine. This means that the medicine can no longer kill the bacteria. Drug resistance is more common in people who • have spent time with someone with drug-resistant active TB disease • do not take their medicine regularly • do not take all of their medicine as told by their doctor or nurse • develop active TB disease again, after having taken TB medicine in the past • come from areas where drug-resistant TB is common Sometimes the bacteria become resistant to two or more of the most important medicines: INH and RIF. This is called multidrug-resistant TB, or MDR TB. This is a very serious problem. People with MDR TB disease must be treated with special medicines. These medicines are not as good as the usual medicines for TB and they may cause more side effects. Also, most people with MDR TB disease must see a TB expert who can closely observe their treatment to make s
When TB patients do not take their medicine as prescribed, the TB bacteria may become resistant to a certain drug. This means that the drug can no longer kill the bacteria. Drug resistance is more common in people who have spent time with someone with drug-resistant TB disease, do not take their medicine regularly, do not take all of their prescribed medicine, develop TB disease again, after having taken TB medicine in the past, or come from areas where drug-resistant TB is common (Southeast Asia, Latin America, Haiti, and the Philippines) Sometimes the bacteria become resistant to more than one drug. This is called multidrug-resistant TB, or MDR TB. This is a very serious problem. People with MDR TB disease must be treated with special drugs. These drugs are not as good as the usual drugs for TB and they may cause more side effects. Also, some people with MDR TB disease must see a TB expert who can closely observe their treatment to make sure it is working.
