Features of Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in South Korea

 

Findings in patients with extensively drug-resistant strains:

(1) prolonged cumulative therapy (usually multiple regimens), typically > 18 months

(2) prior therapy with second line drugs

(3) positive sputum culture at 6 months after starting therapy

 

Initial antibiotic resistance patterns seen with the extensively drug-resistant strains:

(1) resistance to kanamycin

(2) resistance to ofloxacin (fluoroquinolone resistance)

 

A patient presenting with one or more of these findings should be suspected of having an extensively drug-resistant strain.