As tuberculosis resistance increases linearly, the cost and complexity of managing these cases increases exponentially
New Zealand’s first case of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is reported in this issue of the Journal.1 Even though the patient did not have transmissible pulmonary TB, the case highlights the complexity of managing such patients and draws attention to the long delay between suspecting TB and confirming XDR-TB. Two cases of XDR-TB have been reported in Australia, one in 20042 and one in 2010,3 but there have been many more cases overseas.4 Still, only three cases in our two countries — should we care?
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- Infectious Diseases Department, Austin Health and University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
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