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Aggressive TB treatment 'success' | |
(2 days later) | |
Tuberculosis which is resistant to many current treatments can be overcome with aggressive therapy, research suggests. | Tuberculosis which is resistant to many current treatments can be overcome with aggressive therapy, research suggests. |
Extensively drug-resistant TB is associated with high rates of mortality and is thought to account for at least 7% of cases of the infection worldwide. | Extensively drug-resistant TB is associated with high rates of mortality and is thought to account for at least 7% of cases of the infection worldwide. |
Despite fears that it is untreatable, researchers have shown a cure is possible with a combination of at least five drugs, The Lancet reported. | Despite fears that it is untreatable, researchers have shown a cure is possible with a combination of at least five drugs, The Lancet reported. |
UK experts said it was good news but would require a lot of resources. | UK experts said it was good news but would require a lot of resources. |
Multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB, of which there are around 50 to 70 cases every year in the UK, is resistant to the most commonly used treatments isoniazid and rifampin. | Multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB, of which there are around 50 to 70 cases every year in the UK, is resistant to the most commonly used treatments isoniazid and rifampin. |
It's a very important paper showing it's possible to deal with XDR-TB Dr John Moore-Gillon | It's a very important paper showing it's possible to deal with XDR-TB Dr John Moore-Gillon |
But in extensively resistant (XDR) TB, at least two of the second-line treatments are also worthless. | But in extensively resistant (XDR) TB, at least two of the second-line treatments are also worthless. |
Some experts have speculated that XDR-TB is effectively untreatable and there were grave concerns after reports of 52 deaths in 16 days in South Africa after an outbreak among patients with HIV. | Some experts have speculated that XDR-TB is effectively untreatable and there were grave concerns after reports of 52 deaths in 16 days in South Africa after an outbreak among patients with HIV. |
Tailored treatment | Tailored treatment |
In the latest trial done in 600 patients in Russia with resistant TB, researchers found that almost 5% of them had XDR-TB. | In the latest trial done in 600 patients in Russia with resistant TB, researchers found that almost 5% of them had XDR-TB. |
Each patient was given an individually tailored treatment programme on the basis of the strain they had. | Each patient was given an individually tailored treatment programme on the basis of the strain they had. |
The aim was to provide at least five drugs to which that particular patient's strain of TB was susceptible. | The aim was to provide at least five drugs to which that particular patient's strain of TB was susceptible. |
Almost half of XDR-TB patients and 67% of MDR-TB patients had treatment cure on completion. | |
Study leader Dr Salmaan Keshavjee, from Harvard Medical School in the US, said: "Aggressive management of this infectious disease is feasible and can prevent high mortality rates and further transmission of drug-resistant strains of TB." | Study leader Dr Salmaan Keshavjee, from Harvard Medical School in the US, said: "Aggressive management of this infectious disease is feasible and can prevent high mortality rates and further transmission of drug-resistant strains of TB." |
Dr John Moore-Gillon, a spokesperson for the British Lung Foundation, said the bad news is that we have XRD-TB in the first place. | Dr John Moore-Gillon, a spokesperson for the British Lung Foundation, said the bad news is that we have XRD-TB in the first place. |
"The reason we have the problem is inadequate control of TB. | "The reason we have the problem is inadequate control of TB. |
"This treatment is extremely labour and resource intensive and has to be done within extremely well structured TB programmes. | "This treatment is extremely labour and resource intensive and has to be done within extremely well structured TB programmes. |
"It's a very important paper showing it's possible to deal with XDR-TB but it's very expensive." | "It's a very important paper showing it's possible to deal with XDR-TB but it's very expensive." |
He added that MDR-TB treatment costs tens of thousands but for XDR-TB it's "much more than that". | He added that MDR-TB treatment costs tens of thousands but for XDR-TB it's "much more than that". |
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