title: The multidrug-resistant tuberculosis challenge to public health efforts to control tuberculosis.
abstract: After years of steady decline, there has been an unprecedented resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States and outbreaks of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The authors assess the nature, epidemiology, and implications of MDR-TB; provide suggestions for preventing drug resistance among patients with drug-susceptible TB; and offer recommendations for managing patients with MDR-TB. They outline the National Action Plan to Combat MDR-TB. Close collaboration among medical practitioners and staff members of TB control programs is needed to ensure the most effective management of patients with TB and their contacts. This collaboration is one of the most important steps for successful control of MDR-TB.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Prevention Services, CDC, Atlanta, GA 30333.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Villarino
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Geiter
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Simone
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000592:standards*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D012106:Research / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology