Resistant tuberculosis (tb)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The infection primarily affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also involve other organs (extrapulmonary TB). Antibiotic treatment is crucial to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce mortality.
Resistant Tuberculosis (RTB) refers to cases of TB that do not respond to standard first-line anti-TB medications, such as isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. This resistance may be due to inadequate drug susceptibility testing, poor treatment adherence, or the presence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains. Treatment for RTB requires a longer duration, using second-line drugs, and is often more complex and expensive.
Typical medications for RTB include fluoroquinolones (such as moxifloxacin), aminoglycosides (such as amikacin or kanamycin), and other injectable and oral agents like capreomycin and linezolid. Combination therapy is essential to ensure efficacy and reduce the risk of further drug resistance. It is important for healthcare professionals to monitor patients closely, perform regular drug susceptibility testing, and adjust treatment plans accordingly.