Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB) (cont.)
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 QuantiFERONŽ-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?
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.
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 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.
Next: What can health care providers do to prevent XDR TB? »
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