Emerging epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Europe, Russia, China, South America and Asia: current status and global perspectives.
OBJECTIVE
Drug resistance, particularly through multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB strains, poses a real threat to TB control worldwide. Recent reports from the WHO and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease demonstrate that the emerging epidemic of drug-resistant TB is a global problem, although emphasis has been placed on several 'hot spots' because of lack of good global data.


RESULTS
The present article is aimed at reviewing the available information on drug-resistant TB with special focus on the features of the epidemic in Europe, Russia, Latin America, Asia and specifically China, and to discuss the global perspectives related to drug-resistant TB control and care.


CONCLUSIONS
Drug-resistant TB originates from different human errors, including misuse of anti-TB drugs and other reasons related to prescribers, patients and drug producers. Although there is an urgent need for new drugs, a sound public health approach is necessary for their introduction in clinical treatment settings to prevent/avoid creating additional resistance, as has already been observed for first and second-line anti-TB drugs in many settings.
WHO Collaborating Centre for TB and Lung Diseases, Fondazione S. Maugeri, Care and Research Institute, Tradate, Italy. giovannibattista.migliori@fsm.it
Giovanni Battista
GB
Migliori
Rosella
R
Centis
Chris
C
Lange
Morgan D'Arcy
MD
Richardson
Giovanni
G
Sotgiu
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D054908:Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents