Dr. Reuben Granich, of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, points out that "patients with [multi-drug resistant TB] are four times more likely to die."
The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 50 million people worldwide may be infected with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, with over 300,000 new cases reported each year.
Just in California alone, nearly 38,000 cases of tuberculosis have been reported in the past 10 years; over 400 of those cases were multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. This increase has been attributed to the large number of immigrants entering and leaving the U.S.
Dr. Reuben Granich stated that "...each case of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis can actually sometimes end up costing over $1 million dollars to treat and control."
Dr. Frederick Corder, who oversees a tuberculosis clinic, indicated that the best way to prevent multi-drug tuberculosis is to use Directly Observed Therapy (DOT). DOT is a treatment method in which healthcare professional observe patients taking their medications until all of the medication has been taken as prescribed.
If you are currently taking medications to treat your tuberculosis, be sure to take them exactly as prescribed. Do not stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor.
Healthcare workers, and people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis, are especially at risk for contracting tuberculosis.
If you have not been tested for tuberculosis recently, you should see your doctor for a tuberculosis test. It's a quick and easy test that may save your life.
Sources: www.news-medical.net, www.nbc4.tv, www.voanews.com, and www.lungusa.org
