The threat of Multi-Drug Resistant TB-MDR-TB
"We are frightened by the development of multidrug-resistant
TB, reaching 10% of all our TB cases in the province [of KwaZulu Natal,
South Africa]. It means we might get actually two TB epidemics, and both
would get out of control because of HIV. …Further, what we see in our
department [of Health in KZN], is that a number of people from our staff
has HIV and may be exposed to MDR-TB."
Doctor Zweli L.
Mkhize, Minister of Health, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, Interview in
AIDS-Bells
http://www.aids-bells.org/Interview_Mkhize.html
Dorfling press - picture by Peter McKenzie
Fifty years ago we had no drugs to cure for TB.
Now strains that are resistant to the drugs are reported in every country. We have new virulent strains of TB that are resistant to all major anti-TB drugs. This is a crisis caused by patients with TB who do not complete their course of medication and so develop Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB.
These patients develop a resistance to the
drugs Rifampicin and Isoniazid which are the key drugs used in the
treatment of TB.
Multi -drug TB is very difficult to cure and the drugs
that have to be used are very expensive
MDR-TB is rising at alarming rates in some countries, especially the
former Soviet Union and this is threatening the Global TB controls
efforts
It is estimated that there are 2000 new MDR-TB patients every year.
These patients will spread the new MDR TB to their families and friends. By not completing their treatment they are putting everyone at risk of becoming infected with MDR TB.
Our country cannot afford this huge waste of money........
Costs involved in treating MDR TB patients
- To treat and cure a new infectious TB patient costs the state R3 500.
- To treat a MDR-TB patient can costs the state between R35 000 and R50 000.
The treatment period of MDR-TB is 18 to 24 months as opposed to the 6 months for ordinary TB.