Risk factors for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis : a review

Abstract EN

The current review aims to determine the risk factors associated with multi-drugs resistant TB (MDR-TB).

Previous treatment is the most important risk factor for inducing MDR-TB.

Other important associated factors are: immigration, age 45-64 year, male sex, HIV infection, alcoholism, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and poor socio-economic factors.

Effective treatment, control and prevention of emergence and transmission of drug-resistant TB are required in all countries.

To achieve this, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the adoption of Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course (DOTS) programme which involves giving effective and regular anti-TB drug supply, government security and financing commitment, case detection and diagnosis by smear microscopy, and monitoring the performance and outcome.

It is highly recommended to strictly follow the appropriate WHO treatment guidelines, to ensure adequate success rate of treatment in drug-susceptible and drug-resistant strains; this will limit emergence of resistant strains and prevent spread of the disease.

The emergence of aggressive new forms of drug-resistant TB is worrying that requires reinforcement of control measures.

This demands special attention to case detection and prompt treatment of MDR-TB, extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB), and totally drug resistant TB (TDR-TB) to prevent transmission of the disease and further development of drug-resistant strains beyond this stage.