Drug-resistant Forms Of Tuberculosis Research Articles

The production of consumption: addressing the impact of mineral mining on tuberculosis in southern Africa

BackgroundMiners in southern Africa experience incident rates of tuberculosis up to ten times greater than the general population. Migration to and from mines may be amplifying tuberculosis epidemics in the general population.DiscussionMigration to and from mineral mines contributes to HIV risks and associated tuberculosis incidence. Health and safety conditions within mines also promote the risk of silicosis (a tuberculosis risk factor) and transmission of tuberculosis bacilli in close quarters. In the context of migration, current tuberculosis prevention and treatment strategies often fail to provide sufficient continuity of care to ensure appropriate tuberculosis detection and treatment. Reports from Lesotho and South Africa suggest that miners pose transmission risks to other household or community members as they travel home undetected or inadequately treated, particularly with drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis. Reducing risky exposures on the mines, enhancing the continuity of primary care services, and improving the enforcement of occupational health codes may mitigate the harmful association between mineral mining activities and tuberculosis incidence among affected communities.SummaryTuberculosis incidence appears to be amplified by mineral mining operations in southern Africa. A number of immediately-available measures to improve continuity of care for miners, change recruitment and compensation practices, and reduce the primary risk of infection may critically mitigate the negative association between mineral mining and tuberculosis.

Leaders Warn of Deadly HIV, TB Collision

AT A RECENT GATHERING OF global health leaders at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City, Margaret Chan, MD, described a chilling scenario. Chan, the Director-General of the World Health Organization(WHO), told thegroup that drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis (TB) are on an increasingly deadly collision course with HIV infection. “Earlier this year, WHO released a report indicating that multidrug-resistant TB has reached the highest levels ever recorded,” said Chan. “Even more ominousistheemergenceofextensivelydrugresistant TB [XDR-TB], which is virtually impossible to treat.” Chan said any furtherspreadofXDR-TBwouldbeasetback “of epic proportions” in global efforts tocontrol thespreadofTBandHIV. “If we allow XDR-TB to spread,” Chan said, “we are, in effect, going back to the pre-antibiotic era.”

Tuberculosis: a new threat from an old nemesis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB), which only a few years ago was thought to be under control and soon to be eliminated, has resurfaced as a real threat in the home and community setting. This article discusses TB symptoms, therapies (including a discussion of the drug-resistant forms of TB), prevention and control strategies, and the role of the home healthcare nurse in the surveillance for and management of TB.