Tuberculosis FACT SHEETS

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

What is drug-resistant tuberculosis?

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) happens when the usual drugs used to kill the TB germs (bacteria) no longer work. Drug-resistant TB is of special concern for persons with HIV infection or other conditions that can weaken the immune system.

How do I get drug-resistant TB?

You can get drug-resistant TB if you:

• breathe in germs from someone with drug-resistant TB disease
• already have TB disease and didn’t take all of your TB drugs
• develop active TB disease again, after being treated in the past

What is multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)?

TB that is resistant to the two most important “first-line” antibiotics used to fight TB is called multidrugresistant TB or MDR-TB. A person with MDR-TB disease needs special antibiotics and must take drugs for a longer time. Unfortunately, these drugs usually have more side effects and are not as effective as the first-line drugs.

What is extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB)?

Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) can develop when MDR-TB germs become resistant to two or more of the best second-line drugs. XDR-TB is extremely difficult to treat as there are very few drugs left that can be used.

Note: MDR-TB and XDR-TB are very serious diseases and should be treated by a doctor who specializes in TB.

Previous | Table of Contents | Next