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In this Article

• What is XDR TB?
• How is XDR TB spread?
• Why is XDR TB so serious?
• Who is at risk for getting XDR TB?
• How can I prevent myself from getting TB?
• Can the TB vaccine (BCG) help prevent XDR TB?
• If I have regular (drug-susceptible) TB, how can I prevent getting drug-resistant TB?
• Can XDR TB be treated and cured?
• What are the symptoms of XDR TB?
• What should I do if I have been around someone who has XDR TB?
• How long does it take to find out if you have XDR TB?
• Is XDR TB a problem in the United States?
• How many cases of XDR TB have been reported in the United States?
• Is it safe to travel where cases of XDR TB have been reported?
• What can health care providers do to prevent XDR TB?
• Are immigrants putting the U.S. at increased risk for TB?
• Why haven't we heard about XDR TB before now?
• What is CDC doing to prevent XDR TB from becoming a bigger problem?
• Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB) Glossary
• Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB) Index
• Find a local Infectious Disease Specialist in your town

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 patients' 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 haven'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

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention