Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in Chest Disease Institute, 1997-2005
Charoen Chuchottaworn MD*
Affiliation : * Division of Respiratory Medicine, Chest Disease Institute, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
Objective : To determine prevalence of extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in Chest Disease
Institute. World Health Organization has given the definition of XDR-TB as multi-drug resistant tuberculosis
which also resists fluoroquinolone and aminoglycoside.
Material and Method: The present study was a retrospective review and conducted at Microbiology Unit,
Chest Disease Institute. Drug susceptibility testing against fluoroquinolone and aminoglycoside have been
done routinely since 1997. Laboratory results were studied to find XDR-TB patients and medical record
information were reviewed. Laboratory results in 2006-2007 were not completed so were not included in the
review.
Results : The result of the present study showed that from 1997 to 2005. 10,289 patients were tested for drug
susceptibility. XDR-TB was found in 39 patients. Prevalence of XDR-TB was 6, 6, 9, 4, 3, 3, 2, 4 and 2 patients
from 1997-2005 respectively. Most of XDR-TB patients were also resistant to Streptomycin and 39% resistant
to Ethambutol. No data of resistance to second line drugs of XDR-TB was done in the present study.
Conclusion : The present study confirmed the existing of XDR-TB in Thai patient for a long time but not in
increasing rate. The authorized TB Control organization should take XDR-TB as an important problem and
developed capacity of tuberculosis laboratory in order to be able to diagnose XDR-TB
Keywords : Prevalence, MDR-TB, XDR-TB, Thailand
