Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis case in the Thames Valley, UK and public health interventions

SummaryThis study describes the first case of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in the Thames Valley and South East Region and discuss the public health implications, highlighting the need to integrate current epidemiological knowledge with clinical expertise in order to diagnose drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) early.The management of the XDR-TB patients is challenging with few treatment options, expensive therapy, side effects of drugs and a longer course of the treatment.

► First case of XDR-TB in a 22 years old student from Lithuania.
► There was a delay in prompt diagnosis VNTR of this patient matched with 14 other cases, 5 of those were from Lithuania.
► Patient completed 18 months of therapy.
► Patient is still being followed-up every 6 months.