Fact Sheet
CDC's Role in Preventing Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
(XDR TB)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is
collaborating with other federal agencies and international partners
to raise awareness and enhance strategies for TB prevention
worldwide by
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Strengthening TB services for people living with HIV/AIDS
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through
funding and technical support, helps host countries strengthen
laboratory infrastructure, provide staff training, and screen
patients who are HIV-infected for TB. Host countries are working to
improve patient management, drug-resistance surveillance, and
monitoring and evaluation efforts.
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Assembling outbreak response teams
Teams of subject matter experts from CDC are prepared to be
rapidly deployed to help host country governments and the World
Health Organization (WHO) when outbreaks occur or other needs are
identified.
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Improving access to TB drugs
As a member of the Green Light Committee and through support of
the Global Drug Facility, CDC is helping to increase access to
quality-assured, lower-cost second-line drugs to treat
drug-resistant TB.
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Developing international TB testing standards
These recommendations are being designed to ensure more accurate
and rapid detection and treatment of drug-resistant TB. They will
include standards for second-line drug susceptibility testing, new
anti-TB drug regimens, and better diagnostic testing.
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Building capacity of health care providers
By providing technical support and training, CDC helps to build
the capacity of frontline health care providers to diagnose and
ensure completion of treatment, which aids in preventing drug
resistance.
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Reconvening the Federal TB Task Force
This task force was originally created to respond to the
emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) in the U.S.
in the 1990s. Today, the Federal TB Task Force is developing an
action plan to combat XDR TB.
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Providing technical assistance to expand program capacity
CDC and partners are working directly with host countries to
implement improved infection control measures, rapid case detection,
effective treatment, and drug resistance surveillance.
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Supporting TB communication and education efforts
Information on XDR TB is being disseminated regularly and widely.
This information is regularly updated on the CDC and partner
websites, as well as being presented at national and international
conferences and events.
Note: In addition to CDC, U.S. government partners include the
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) Tuberculosis Control
Assistance Program (TBCAP), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Other domestic partners include the National Tuberculosis
Controllers Association (NTCA) and local and state TB programs.
International partners include the World Health Organization (WHO),
the Stop TB Partnership, the International Union Against
Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD), national TB programs, and
ministries of health.
Additional Information
CDC.
Extensively Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB)
CDC.
Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis - United States, 1993—2006
World Health
Organization. Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB)
website
Last Modified: 10/16/2008
Last Reviewed: 05/18/2008
Content Source: Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
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