XDR-TB in South Africa: Theory and practice
2007

XDR-TB in South Africa: No Time for Denial or Complacency

publication

Author Information

Author(s): Jason Andrews, Sanjay Basu, David Scales, Duncan Smith-Rohrberg, Ramnath Subbaraman

Primary Institution: Yale University School of Medicine

Conclusion

The current response to XDR-TB in South Africa is inadequate, and many patients are left without proper treatment options.

Supporting Evidence

  • Patients with drug-resistant TB in KwaZulu-Natal are being turned away from hospitals due to lack of capacity.
  • US policies during MDR-TB outbreaks were rarely enforced and focused on outpatient care.
  • Many XDR-TB patients in South Africa lack access to effective treatment options.

Takeaway

In South Africa, many people with a serious form of tuberculosis called XDR-TB can't get the help they need, and just locking them up won't solve the problem.

Limitations

The article discusses systemic deficiencies in the healthcare response to XDR-TB but does not provide specific data or a detailed methodology.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pmed.0040163

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication