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How do we identify XDR-TB? Uncover the secrets of the diagnostic process!
Globally, tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health threat, particularly as it develops resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Extended drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is worrisome because strains of TB are resistant to multiple first-line and second-line anti-TB drugs. This article will shed light on the process of identifying XDR-TB and explore its challenges.
"The emergence of extended-drug-resistant TB makes us worry about future TB epidemics."
What is XDR-TB?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), XDR-TB is defined as tuberculosis that is resistant to specific anti-tuberculosis drugs, especially fluoroquinolones and at least one second-line injectable drug, such as amikacin, kefir- tuberculosis resistant to antibiotics such as kanamycin or cytomegalovirus. This leaves the drug options for treating XDR-TB extremely limited, putting patients at a higher risk of death.Symptoms and transmission
Symptoms of XDR-TB are the same as those of regular TB and include persistent cough, coughing up thick or bloody sputum, fever, chills, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and shortness of breath. These symptoms do not necessarily mean that you are infected with XDR-TB, but if symptoms persist and do not improve, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
XDR-TB is also spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks and spreads TB bacteria into the air. Although XDR-TB is not spread through kissing, sharing food or shaking hands, the risk of infection increases significantly in closed or crowded settings.
"Effective diagnosis depends on patients receiving high-quality medical care."
Diagnostic Process
The diagnostic process for XDR-TB is quite cumbersome. Generally speaking, if tuberculosis bacteria are detected in sputum, tuberculosis is diagnosed. However, this alone cannot distinguish whether it is drug-resistant tuberculosis. To determine drug resistance, bacteria need to be cultured and tested in a specialized laboratory, a process that can take 6 to 16 weeks.
“Old methods cannot effectively detect XDR-TB strains. New detection methods are the current research trend.”
Traditional drug susceptibility testing (DST) uses specific culture media to test the response of tuberculosis bacteria to specific drugs, while new methods such as the Bactec MGIT 960 system and reverse line hybridization (RLBH) have shown The superiority in rapid detection of drug resistance greatly shortens the time for test results.
Prevention and Treatment
To effectively respond to XDR-TB, countries need to ensure that TB control programmes are implemented in accordance with international standards and that resources and support are secured. Treatment against XDR-TB still relies on second-line drugs, but due to their side effects and high prices, patients' treatment progress is slow and the success rate is lower than expected. For example, according to a 2018 report, the treatment success rate for XDR-TB was only 34%, compared to 55% for drug-resistant TB.
ConclusionWith the increasing threat of XDR-TB, how to effectively identify and treat XDR-TB has become a major challenge facing the global health community. Are we adequately prepared to face more serious tuberculosis outbreaks that may occur in the future?
