Extensively Drug-resistant Tuberculosis

Extensively Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is a strain of the infectious disease tuberculosis (TB) that is resistant to the two most powerful classes of TB drugs and is becoming increasingly common, especially in parts of the world with limited access to high-quality medical care. XDR-TB is a serious public health concern due to its high degree of transmission, resulting in an increased risk of mortality, including death in infants and young children. Treatment of XDR-TB is complicated and often unsuccessful due to the cost, length of time required, and difficulties involved in identifying the correct drugs to use, making prevention of the disease essential. Strategies for preventing the spread of XDR-TB include improving access to healthcare and expanding the availability of TB drugs, increasing public awareness of the dangers of TB, and encouraging early diagnosis and treatment of TB.