Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) - A Potential Threat in Ireland
Anne Marie Mc Laughlin1 , *
Rory A O’Donnell1
Noel Gibbons2
Mary Scully3
Darina O’Flangan4
Joseph Keane1
Authors Info & Affiliations
Rory A O’Donnell1
Noel Gibbons2
Mary Scully3
Darina O’Flangan4
Joseph Keane1
Authors Info & Affiliations
The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal
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15 December 2007 •
RESEARCH ARTICLE
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DOI: 10.2174/1874306400701010007
Abstract
We describe a case of a 25 year old female from Lithuania who presented with a productive cough. Chest radiograph demonstrated an infiltrate in the left upper lobe and a cavitating lesion in the right middle lobe. Sensitivity testing of her sputum led to a diagnosis of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). This is the first case in Ireland and highlights the need for physicians to be aware of the possibility of XDR-TB. Moreover it underlines the need for im-provement in service provision in terms of a TB reference laboratory and TB clinics.
