Medical Insider – Dr. Bryan Cepedoza
What is MDR-TB?
(Part 1)
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): Good afternoon, Dr. Bryan. We had a lengthy discussion of Pertussis. It was very helpful.
We will now go to another exciting topic: MDR-TB. What is MDR-TB? They say it is difficult to treat this kind of TB since the bacteria carrying it are resistant to some medicines.
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: Yes, it’s true Ma’am Ardy, we call it Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): What causes this?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: This is the situation. There are some patients who have TB and when they are given the medication, they will stop taking the medicines a few days after. Why? They believe that, if they feel better, they are already well. They do not strictly follow the advice of the doctor as to the dosage and number of days to take the medication. They don’t realize the thing called mutation. And when they go back to the doctor, because they start feeling ill again, they become resistant to the first line of medicines to fight TB. They would now be categorized as having MDR TB
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): Is MDR TB more dangerious than ordinary TB?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR TB) is a specific form of TB that does not respond to “ordinary” TB treatment. That makes it dangerous. As a result it is difficult to treat and needs specialised treatment. As said, MDR TB is caused by the development of TB bacteria, which have become resistant to ordinary TB drugs
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): What are the risks of MDR TB?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: These are some of the risk factors of MDR TB: Failure to respond to a first-line DOTS regimen (WHO Category I or II); Relapse after a full course of treatment with a first-line regimen; Treatment after defaulting from treatment with a first-line regimen; Exposure to a known case of MDR-TB. (To be continued)