Drug-resistant tuberculosis therapy: adverse events and risk factors

The world is seeing unprecedented numbers of people infected with drug-resistant tuberculosis(DR-TB) in patients who have previously failed tuberculosis (TB) treatment and also in patients newly diagnosed with TB. "Left untreated, the infectious disease is lethal, but treatment today puts people through two years of excruciating side effects, including psychosis, deafness and constant nausea, with painful daily injections for up to eight months. Barely half of people get cured" - Press release by Médecins Sans Frontières - Access Campaign, March 19, 2013 (msfaccess.org/TBmanifesto). The advent and spread of DR-TB posses a great challenge in the treatment of TB, especially among patients also infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Namibia is an example of a country that is currently coping with a dual burden of HIV and HIV-associated TB. In 2009, 58% of all TB patients were HIV co-infected and 372 cases of DR-TB were reported. This research work, therefore, provides insights into the prevalence; outcome and risk factors of the adverse events associated with the treatment of DR-TB, and explores the potential role of HIV co-infection.