MDR TB

Better, shorter TB treatment – thanks to SA scientists

Health

South African scientists may be en route to developing shorter, better tuberculosis (TB) treatment, according to research released at the International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia.

lauralopez
July 22, 2014

Boost for XDR-TB patients as cheaper pills allowed

Health, Health Systems, News

The Medicines Control Council (MCC) has granted humanitarian group Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) access to a cheaper drug to treat extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB).

lauralopez
July 1, 2014

Guidelines: Management of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis

Health

Updated January 2013, these South African Department of Health guidelines describe the management of drug-resistant (DR), multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resisistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB).

healthe
June 19, 2014

Tshepong Hospital brings man back from death’s door

Health, News, Our Health

Samuel Matebele thought his "days were over", but six-months after completing tuberculosis (TB) treatment the former farm worker from Hartebeesfontein says he is feeling good again.

jobamatsheng
June 13, 2014

Litigation threat may prompt access to cheaper DR-TB drug

Health, News

South Africa may finally allow access to a cheaper form of the drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) drug linezolid following the lodging of a high court case.

lauralopez
June 13, 2014

Opinion: Facing the ‘White Plague’ in a white coat

Health, Health Systems

As a medical student, Dr Dalene von Delft contracted multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The experience has propelled her into advocacy, she writes why.

Guest Author
June 11, 2014

Opinion: TB behind bars

Health, Health Systems, News

Despite court-mandated moves by government to stem the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, a recent Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) investigation has found just eight doctors serve the Department of Correctional Services, according to this piece written by TAC researcher Lieve Vanleeuw.

Guest Author
June 11, 2014

GeneXpert’s benefits still not reaching patients

Health, News

The Department of Health’s multi-million rand investment in an automated, rapid TB test is being short-changed by slow health systems, said researchers this week.

wilmastassen
June 9, 2014

Family intervention saves MDR-TB patient

Health, Our Health

When drinking came between one Mpumalanga man and his tuberculosis (TB) treatment, his family stepped in. Now, he says, he has learned the importance of taking his treatment daily.

cynthiamaseko
April 9, 2014

Poor treatment boosts XDR-TB in SA

Health

South Africa’s multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment regimen may be fuelling the rise of MDR-TB as a recent study suggests that many patients are already resistant to at least three of its standard drugs.

wilmastassen
March 25, 2014

Nurses to lead charge against DR-TB

Health, Health Systems

In a country of more than 50 million people, it is hard to be a “first” but Ntombasekaya Mlandu is. She is the first nurse trained to initiate and manage multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients.

lauralopez
March 24, 2014

Presentation: Drug-resistant TB in South Africa

Health

In this presentation, Dr. Norbert Ndjeka, director of the Department of Health’s DR-TB, TB & HIV division, presents the latest drug-resistant TB figures.

healthe
March 23, 2014

Cape Town XDR-TB patient leads international campaign

Health

A Cape Town survivor of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis has taken her campaign for better access to testing and treatment from her hometown of Khayelitsha to Paris and beyond.

laurawatermeyer
October 31, 2013

Multidrug-resistant TB cases double

Health

Diagnosed cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) have nearly doubled globally but treatment in countries like South Africa’s is not keeping up, leaving patients to die and communities at risk, according to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report.

lauralopez
October 24, 2013

WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2013

Health

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health problem. In 2012, an estimated 8.6 million people developed TB and 1.3 million died from the disease. Of these 1.3 million deaths, about 320,000 were among people living with HIV.

healthe
October 23, 2013

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