CDC Offers Public Health Grand Rounds on Drug-Resistant TB

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will offer the Public Health Grand Rounds session, “Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: New Tools to Tackle New Challenges from an Old Foe,” on March 18, at 1 p.m. EDT.

Tuberculosis is an ancient disease that remains an important global cause of morbidity and mortality. In most cases, TB can be treated and cured by taking a combination of several drugs for 6 to 12 months. When inappropriate or incomplete treatment takes place, however, TB bacteria can develop resistance to multiple drugs. Treatment of drug-resistant TB is currently longer, more toxic, more complex, and less effective than for drug-susceptible TB. In 2011, less than 10 percent of the total estimated multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases were detected and annually, there are approximately 500,000 cases of MDR-TB, and 150,000 deaths. Although there are simple rapid tests that have improved the diagnosis of the disease, there is immense potential to increase the number of persons diagnosed with MDR-TB, and diagnose them more quickly so that they can begin treatment sooner.

This session will discuss how more patients can benefit from advances in diagnostic and treatment options, resulting in an overall reduction in morbidity from MDR-TB. This session of Grand Rounds will also explore the role of CDC, WHO and other partners in combating this public health epidemic.

Presenters include:

Sarita Shah, MD, MPH
Associate Chief for Science, International Research and Programs Branch, Division of TB Elimination
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC
"The Public Health Importance of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis"

Tom Shinnick, PhD
Associate Director for Global Laboratory Activities, Division of TB Elimination
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC
"Rapid Diagnosis of MDR TB: A Laboratory Systems-based Approach"

Christian Lienhardt, MD, DTM, MSc, PhD
Senior Research Advisor, Stop TB Department,
World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
"Rational Use of New Drugs for Treatment of MDR TB: Context and Challenges"

Tom Kenyon, MD, MPH
Director, Center for Global Health, CDC
"Drug Resistance in TB: What Public Health Can Do Now and in the Future"

The session will be facilitated by John Iskander, MD, MPH, scientific director, Public Health Grand Rounds, and Susan Laird, MSN, RN, communications manager, Public Health Grand Rounds.

Source: CDC