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16 XDR-TB cases since Jan ’12

State worried as Maximum City registers maximum number of 10 cases.

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The state tuberculosis department has detected 16 new cases of extensive drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) across Maharashtra this year, said state joint director (tuberculosis and leprosy) Dr Pradeep Gaikwad. What’s alarming is that of the 16, 10 were reported from Mumbai alone, while the six others were from Akola, Nagpur and Aurangabad.

Talking to DNA, Gaikwad said, “Considering that these are all new cases, the number is quite alarming. With the cases increasing sharply, we have sought that a special laboratory to detect XDR-TB be set up at the Sir JJ Hospital, for which we have already drafted a letter for the central ministry enlisting demands of funds and equipment.”

In India, there are only three recognised laboratories, based in Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi, where suspected XDR-TB samples are sent for testing. As Maharashtra lacks one for its own people, the laboratory will be set up soon, said Gaikwad, while explaining how the deadly extensive drug resistance TB belongs to a complicated phase termed as the Stage-IV TB. “In this stage, the patient develops resistance to four classes of drugs. Given the highly virulent nature of XDR-TB, the afflicted can easily pass on the infection to a healthy individual.”

Stating that the Bangalore-based National Tuberculosis Institute had only recently confirmed the newly-detected XDR-TB cases, Gaikwad said, “Two types of tests are carried out: liquid and solid. While one is known as micobacterial culture, the other uses a micobacterial growth indicator tube. It takes around 28 to 30 days to test the resistance and drug sensitivity of a sample to confirm a XDR-TB positive case.”

Dr Jaisingh Phadtare, head of the pulmonology department and professor at the Grant Medical College, told DNA that talks were on with the central health ministry about setting up the XDR-TB detection laboratory in Sir JJ Hosiptal. “Apart from the equipment, we have sought infrastructure, proper funds and well-trained assistants to handle it,” he added.

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