High Mortality in a South African XDR TB Outbreak

Researchers found alarmingly high prevalences of both multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB among HIV-coinfected people in rural South Africa.

This study was conducted in a rural subdistrict of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where the local hospital has an established DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course) program for TB treatment. In this hospital, 40% of inpatient beds are occupied by HIV-infected individuals.

From January 2005 through March 2006, sputum samples were collected for mycobacterial culture from 1539 patients. Cultures from 542 patients (35%) were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB was identified in 221 of the culture-positive patients (41%), including 53 with extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB (here defined as resistant to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, streptomycin, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones).

Genotyping studi…

Reviewing Author

Salim S. Abdool Karim, MD, PhD

High Mortality in a South African XDR TB Outbreak

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Reviewing Author