Facts About Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
(XDR TB)

Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about virulent strains of TB.

Overview

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) is a relatively rare type of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). It is resistant to almost all drugs used to treat TB, including the two best first-line drugs: isoniazid and rifampin. XDR TB is also resistant to the best second-line medications: fluoroquinolones and at least one of three injectable drugs (i.e., amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin).

Because XDR TB is resistant to the most powerful first-line and second-line drugs, patients are left with treatment options that are much less effective and often have worse treatment outcomes.

XDR TB is of special concern for persons with HIV infection or other conditions that can weaken the immune system. These persons are more likely to develop TB disease once they are infected, and also have a higher risk of death once they develop TB disease.

The risk of acquiring XDR TB in the United States appears to be relatively low. However, it is important to acknowledge the ease at which TB can spread. As long as XDR TB exists, the United States is at risk and must address the threat.

What is XDR TB?

How is XDR TB spread?

Drug-susceptible (regular) TB and XDR TB are spread the same way. TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. These germs can float in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected.

TB is not spread by

shaking someoneâ€™s hand
sharing food or drink
touching bed linens or toilet seats
sharing toothbrushes
kissing
smoking or sharing cigarettes

Why is XDR TB so serious?

Because XDR TB is resistant to the most powerful first-line and second-line drugs, patients are left with treatment options that are much less effective and often have worse treatment outcomes. XDR TB is of special concern for persons with HIV infection or other conditions that can weaken the immune system. These persons are more likely to develop TB disease once they are infected, and also have a higher risk of death once they develop TB disease.

Who is at risk for getting XDR TB?

Drug-resistant TB (MDR or XDR) is more common in people who:

Do not take their TB medicine regularly
Do not take all of their TB medicines as told by their doctor or nurse
Develop active TB disease again, after having taken TB medicine in the past
Come from areas of the world where drug-resistant TB is common
Have spent time with someone known to have drug-resistant TB disease

How can I prevent myself from getting TB?

Avoid close contact or prolonged time with known TB patients in crowded, enclosed environments like clinics, hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters.

Can the TB vaccine (BCG) help prevent XDR TB?

There is a vaccine for TB disease called Bacille Calmette-Guerin. It is used in some countries to prevent severe forms of TB in children. However, BCG is not generally recommended in the United States because it has limited effectiveness for preventing TB in adults. The effect of BCG against XDR TB would likely be similar to the effect on drug-susceptible TB.

If I have regular (drug-susceptible) TB, how can I prevent getting drug-resistant TB?

The most important thing is for you to continue taking all your TB medicines exactly as prescribed. No doses should be missed and treatment should not be stopped early. You should tell your health care provider if you are having trouble taking the medications. If you plan to travel, make sure you have enough medicine to last while away.

Can XDR TB be treated and cured?

Yes, in some cases. Some TB control programs have shown that cure is possible for an estimated 30% of affected people. Successful outcomes depend greatly on the extent of the drug resistance, the severity of the disease, and whether the patientâ€™s immune system is weakened.

What are the symptoms of XDR TB?

The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs may also include coughing, chest pain, and coughing up blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected. If you have these symptoms, you should contact your doctor or local health department.

What should I do if I have been around someone who has XDR TB?

If you think you have been exposed to someone with TB disease, you should contact your doctor or local health department about getting a TB Skin Test or the QuantiFERONÂ®-TB Gold test (QFT-G), a blood test. And tell the doctor or nurse when you spent time with this person.

How long does it take to find out if you have XDR TB?

If TB bacteria are found in the sputum (phlegm), the diagnosis of TB can be made in a day or two, but this finding will not be able to distinguish between drug-susceptible (regular) TB and drug-resistant TB. To determine drug susceptibility, the bacteria need to be grown and tested in a laboratory. Final diagnosis for TB, and especially for XDR TB, may take from 6 to 16 weeks.

Is XDR TB a problem in the United States?

How many cases of XDR TB have been reported in the United States?

In the United States, 49 cases of XDR TB have been reported between 1993 and 2006.

Is it safe to travel to countries where cases of XDR TB have been reported?

Although MDR and XDR TB are occurring globally, they are still rare. HIV-infected travelers are at greatest risk if they come in contact with a person with MDR or XDR TB.

All travelers should avoid high risk settings where there are no infection control measures in place. Documented places where transmission has occurred include crowded hospitals, prisons, homeless shelters, and other settings where susceptible persons come in contact with persons with TB disease.

Air travel itself carries a relatively low risk of infection with TB of any kind.

What can health care providers do to prevent XDR TB?

Health care providers can help prevent MDR and XDR TB by quickly diagnosing cases, following recommended treatment guidelines, monitoring patientsâ€™ response to treatment, and making sure therapy is completed.

Providers should also ensure proper implementation of infection control procedures to prevent exposure to TB in hospitals or health-care settings where TB patients are likely to be seen.

Are immigrants putting the U.S. at increased risk for TB?

Persons applying to enter the U.S. with immigrant or refugee visas must complete a questionnaire about any symptoms of TB they may have and obtain a chest radiograph. If positive, the person submits sputum specimens for examination for TB bacteria. Persons identified as having infectious TB are not granted entry to the United States, until they have been treated.

Why havenâ€™t we heard about XDR TB before now?

For some years we have seen isolated cases of very highly resistant TB around the world that we would today call XDR TB. The drugs used to treat TB have been around a long time and drug resistance has taken many years to develop. Over time, countries have improved their laboratory capacity to test for drug resistance and their ability to track the number of cases. All of these factors have contributed to an increase in reporting of cases of drug-resistant TB. With more cases being identified, the problem was more closely examined, defined, and given a name.

What is CDC doing to prevent XDR TB from becoming a bigger problem?

CDC is collaborating with other federal agencies and international partners to raise awareness and enhance strategies for TB prevention worldwide by

Strengthening TB services for people living with HIV/AIDS
Assembling outbreak response teams
Improving access to TB drugs
Developing international TB testing standards
Building capacity of health care providers to diagnose and treat TB
Reconvening the Federal TB Task Force
Providing technical assistance to expand TB program capacity
Supporting TB communication and education efforts

^{This site contains information produced by the CDC and compiled by the site owners.
We are not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of this information.
Layout and site design copyright 2007 hiaxis.com.}

Facts About Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB)