BMJ  2008;336:1324 (14 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39605.462338.3A

Letters

Drug resistant tuberculosis

Service for drug resistant tuberculosis exists in the UK

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

So far the United Kingdom seems to be keeping clear of most of the international increase in drug resistant tuberculosis, in particular multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).1 2 But how long can this be maintained?3

The problem with drug resistant tuberculosis is that it is still relatively uncommon but gradually increasing. Individual clinicians will have very little experience in managing cases. To help this situation, the MDRTB Service has been established at the Cardiothoracic Centre in Liverpool and has been operational since 1 January 2008. The service has the support of the relevant professional bodies, including the British Thoracic Society, the British Infection Society, and the Health Protection Agency.

Essentially it is an electronically linked instant reaction expert group, who can give advice and direct management of cases across the country. It has already done so in some 17 cases from across the UK. By helping clinicians in the management of cases . . . [Full text of this article]

Peter D O Davies, consultant physician, Damian Cullen, service coordinator

1 Cardiothoracic Centre, Liverpool L14 3PE

mdrtbservice@ctc.nhs.uk


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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Abubakar, I, Moore, J, Drobniewski, F, Kruijshaar, M, Brown, T, Yates, M, Anderson, C, Smith, E G, Magee, J, Lipman, M, McMenamin, J, Ruddy, M, Watson, J M (2009). Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in the UK: 1995 to 2007. Thorax 64: 512-515 [Abstract] [Full text]  
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