Pott's disease with multi-drug resistant mycobacteria - abstract

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis and its extrapulmonary manifestations are no longer on the decline in the United States. This is in part due to impaired immunity induced by HIV infection, immigration from countries with extremely high prevalence rates and earlier misdiagnosis with delay in treatment. This, combined with increasing drug resistance, poses a serious threat to public health. We report on a patient, a native of Washington D.C., who had no evidence of immunodeficiency and who developed Pott's disease. Cultures revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to all first line chemotherapeutic drugs. Surgical drainage and appropriate use of alternative drugs ensured a gradual recovery. Pott's disease caused by multi-drug resistant M. tuberculosis has not been previously described (AU)