Resilience and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis: the unlikely ally

• Published in: The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. 713 - 716
• Main Authors: Delgado, E., Monedero, I., Bhavaraju, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 01.06.2017; International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD)
• Subjects: Adherence; Adult; Advocacy; Antitubercular Agents - pharmacology; Antitubercular Agents - supply & distribution; Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Delayed Diagnosis; Drug resistance; Epidemics; Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis - diagnosis; Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis - drug therapy; Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis - microbiology; Humans; Male; Patient-Centered Care; Resilience; Social Support; Travel; Tuberculosis; Xdr-Tb
• ISSN: 1027-3719; 1815-7920
• DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.16.0954

Despite recent advances and well-known treatment options, cure rates for resistant tuberculosis (TB) cases remain extraordinarily low. We present in first person the case of a patient who suffered from TB for over 7 years, and travelled to four countries in search of a cure. This experience shows how resistance patterns worsen under poor programme conditions and illustrates many of the obstacles faced by patients to obtain appropriate care: late diagnosis, lack of experienced care capacity and drug availability, and absence of psychosocial support during toxic and lengthy regimens. In addition to new tools, patient-centred systems are needed to tackle the drug-resistant TB epidemic.