September 13, 2006 - A new multidrug resistant form of tuberculosis has been found worldwide, including in the U.S., Eastern Europe, and Africa, according to the World Health Organization. TB causes about 1.7 million deaths a year, and researchers are concerned about the emergence of drug-resistant strains.

Researchers are now finding TB strains that are resistant to at least two main first-line drugs and three or more of the six classes of second-line drugs. Such drug resistance is mainly caused when incorrect or poor-quality drugs are prescribed, the supply of drugs is erratic, and patients do not take the drugs properly.

A number of Institute of Medicine reports deal with tuberculosis and drug resistance. Microbial Threats to Health: Emergence, Detection, and Response makes several recommendations on how to deal with drug-resistant disease, including increasing efforts to educate practitioners and the public about inappropriate uses of therapeutic drugs. Ending Neglect: The Elimination of Tuberculosis in the United States urges U.S. policymakers to intensify the fight against TB by finding and treating people with latent infections and strengthening public health services. Tuberculosis in the Workplace discusses how TB remains a threat in correctional facilities, health care, and other work settings in the United States and reviews the effectiveness of control measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Microbial Threats to Health: Emergence, Detection, and Response (2003)
• Ending Neglect: The Elimination of Tuberculosis in the United States (2000)
• Tuberculosis in the Workplace (2001)

• WHO News Release
• WHO Drug Resistant TB Fact Sheet