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Risk Factors for Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis |
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| Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is emerging as a growing threat to India's TB control programme. The problem has serious implications as the treatment is far more expensive and the country has limited facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of MDR-TB. |
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In a highly populated country like India, it becomes essential to identify risk factors associated with the MDR-TB infection so as to prevent delay in treatment and to break the transmission cycle. |
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The study was carried out as a part of larger epidemiological investigation on MDR-TB in four municipal wards of Mumbai, where the annual TB case detection rate was found to be quite high. The study aimed at exploring the association of MDR-TB at the onset of therapy among new cases with recognized risk factors viz. age, gender, occupation, migration, substance abuse, nutritional status and co-morbidities. |
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Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and drug susceptibility tests. Results of the study indicated infection with the Beijing strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and female gender as significant predict(a?)tors of MDR-TB at the onset of therapy. |
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| The study provides a starting point to further examine usefulness of these risk factors as screening tools in identifying persons highly vulnerable to MDR-TB. This would be especially beneficial in settings where diagnostic and treatment facilities are limited. |
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| Partner |
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Foundation for Medical Research, Mumbai |
| Support |
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Wellcome Trust, U.K. |
| Contact person |
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Sachin Atre |
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