Resistant TB now "Virtually Untreatable"

Found this off of PharmaGossip:

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed details of a ‘super strain’ of tuberculosis, which is not only resistant to first choice treatment drugs, but also three or more of the six classes of second-line drugs.

The news is a worrying development as the emergence of strains that are resistant to the multitude of drugs has gained significant momentum. TB presently causes about 1.7m deaths a year worldwide. The WHO also recognised the threat of TB amongst people living with HIV/AIDS.

Treating the two diseases at the same time is difficult because of negative interactions between some ARVs used to treat HIV/AIDS and TB drugs. Resistance to anti-TB drugs in populations is a phenomenon that occurs primarily due to poorly managed TB care. Problems include incorrect drug prescribing practices by providers, poor quality drugs or erratic supply of drugs, and also patient non-adherence.

MDR-TB (Multidrug Resistant TB) describes strains of tuberculosis that are resistant to at least the two main first-line TB drugs - isoniazid and rifampicin. XDR-TB, or Extensive Drug Resistant TB (also referred to as Extreme Drug Resistance) is MDR-TB that is also resistant to three or more of the six classes of second-line drugs."

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Looks like the phthisic is making a big phth-comeback! Mercurial poets worldwide must be rejoicing!