§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reported cases there have been of the new antibiotic resistant tuberculosis; and if he will make a statement. [52922]
§ Ms JowellData on tuberculosis (TB) that is resistant to antibiotics are split into two categories: TB resistant to one or more of the antibiotics normally used to treat TB (drug resistant TB); and TB resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin, the two most effective drugs for treating TB (multi-drug resistant TB). United Kingdom information for the years 1994 to 1997 is given in the table.
UK laboratory isolates Year TB resistant to one or more anti-TB drugs1 Multi-drug resistant TB 1994 206 43 1995 212 49 1996 241 60 19972 2220 249 1 Includes multi-drug resistant cases 2 Provisional Source:
Public Health Laboratory Service on behalf of the UK Mycobacterial Resistance Network—MYCOBNET
Drug resistance is not new. TB infections consist of a mixture of organisms, some of which are naturally resistant to some antibiotics. These can multiply if the treatment for the TB is inadequate. This has been known since antibiotic treatment for TB first became available in the 1950s.
Multidrug resistant (MDR) TB in the UK remains at low levels and we intend to keep it this way. One of the aims of national TB policy is to prevent the emergence of drug resistance. Guidance from the Interdepartmental Working Group on Tuberculosis (IDWG) called "Recommendations for the Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis at Local Level" was issued by the Department of Health and Welsh Office in 1996. This guidance contained recommendations for ensuring that patients with TB complete their treatment and about infection control to prevent the spread of TB as well as advice on drug-resistant TB. Copies are available in the Library. An Expert Working Group has been set up under the IDWG to make more detailed recommendations for the prevention of transmission of TB in immuno-compromised (eg HIV) patients and of drug resistant (including MDR) TB to supplement the published guidance. Its report is expected to be issued shortly. Advice on the management of patients with HIV and MDR-TB has been issued by the British Thoracic Society.