CHALLENGES OF MULTIPLE DRUG RESISTANT TUBECULOSIS Therapy (Report‪)‬

Byline: Murtaza Mustafa, I.Mohammad Yusof ,A Jamalul Azizi, M.Kamarudin, M.N.Tauffik, Y.Shahril, S.Niamat Ali and Tariq Iqbal ABSTRACT: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis is known to the medical fraternity for a century. Despite the discovery of many new antimicrobial agents with enhanced activity against M .tuberculosis, the high mortality rate associated with multiple drug resistant (resistant to both isoniazid and rifampin) strains continues. Such strains have been reported from all over the World. Outbreaks of MDR have been reported in hospitals, prisons and other similar settings. These strains are more virulent among those suffering from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS/HIV).Extensively drug resistant (XDR ) strains first occurred in 2001.WHO has defined these strains as isolates of M .tuberculosis with resistance to isoniazid, and rifampin,any fluoroquinolones and at least three injectable second line drugs such as amikacin, capreomycin,or kanamycin. Persons infected with MDR or XDR tuberculosis have poor clinical outcome and over 60% more likely to die during treatment.