Notice to Readers: Revised Definition of Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
MMWR. 2006;55:1176
In a report published on March 24, 2006, MMWR reported that CDC, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and participating supranational reference laboratories, had agreed to define extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) as cases of TB disease in persons whose Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were resistant to isoniazid and rifampin and at least three of the six main classes of second-line drugs (aminoglycosides, polypeptides, fluoroquinolones, thioamides, cycloserine, and para-aminosalicyclic acid).1 Since that original publication, additional reports have documented the presence of XDR TB in Iran and South Africa with high mortality among persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are benefiting from antiretroviral therapy.2-3
The emergence and transmission of these strains of M. tuberculosis highlight the urgency of strengthening national TB and HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome control programs worldwide, particularly in settings with high HIV prevalence. CDC is collaborating with national and international …
