When TB patients
do not take their medicine as prescribed, the TB bacteria may
become resistant to a certain drug. This means that the drug can
no longer kill the bacteria.
Drug resistance is more common in people
who:
- have spent time with someone
with drug-resistant TB disease
- do not take their medicine regularly
- do not take all of their prescribed
medicine
- develop TB disease again, after
having taken TB medicine in the past
- come from areas where drug-resistant
TB is common (Russia, former USSR, Southeast Asia, Latin America,
Haiti, Dominican Republic, and the Philippines)
Sometimes the bacteria become resistant
to more than one drug. This is called multidrug-resistant TB,
or MDR TB. This is a very serious problem. People with MDR TB
disease must be treated with special drugs. These drugs are not
as good as the usual drugs for TB and they may cause more side
effects. Also, all patients with MDR TB disease must see a TB
expert who can closely observe their treatment to make sure it
is working.
People who have spent time with someone
sick with MDR TB disease can become infected with TB bacteria
that are resistant to several drugs. If they have a positive TB
test reaction, they may be given special treatment for their LTBI.
This is very important for people who are at high risk of developing
MDR TB disease, such as children and HIV-infected people.
