As of June 2008, a total of 49 countries worldwide reportedto the World Health Organization (WHO) at least one case ofextensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. Since its first descriptionin March 2006,1 this disease has become the most alarming issuein international tuberculosis control and one that seriouslyrisks compromising the progress observed in many countries overthe past decade.2 Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, whichis especially frequent among drug-resistant cases in the formerSoviet Union, has been linked with very poor treatment outcomesand deemed potentially untreatable in both developing and richcountries.3
Dheda, K., Shean, K., Badri, M., Cheruvu, M., Bhadriraju, S., Mitnick, C. D., Bayona, J., Becerra, M. C.
(2008). Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis. NEJM
359: 2390-2391
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Shah, N. S., Pratt, R., Armstrong, L., Robison, V., Castro, K. G., Cegielski, J. P.
(2008). Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in the United States, 1993-2007. JAMA
300: 2153-2160
[Abstract][Full Text]