Globalization and the Spread of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

Abstract

Background Tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, affects more than one-third of the world’s population with approximately 9 million new cases and a death toll of one and a half million in 2013. A disease that is primarily airborne in its transmission in greater majority of cases and thus it is not possible to become infected without being exposed to the causative agent. This disease, which was well under control within the past decade or two, is now re-emerging and posing a threat across the globe and especially the sub-Saharan Africa. There is no doubt that the negative attributes of Globalisation play an important role especially in the spread of the multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR) TB from countries with reported cases through a human host. Moreover, the combination of a large population of HIV-infected susceptible hosts with poor TB treatment success rates coupled with increased level of poverty among the populace, all of which is linked to globalisation, also contribute to the re-emergence of TB, and the emergence of MDR-TB and XDR-TB.Method Review of relevant literatures was conducted using manual library search and Internet articles. Other relevant websites were also visited to source for information.

Results Suggested that collaboration between various countries would go a long way to contend the spread of MDR-TB and XDR-TB. This is possible by adopting important measures like the provision of well equipped infection control units at the entry points of various countries, training of TB specialists and medical personnel, provision of effective TB control programmes, enhanced TB surveillance system, economic empowerment of the resource poor communities, re-structuring the health reforms and increase public awareness campaigns.Conclusion Considering the fact that globalization plays an important role in the spread of MDR tuberculosis, there is a need for policy makers and international partner organizations to increase their collaborations and to strengthen all required measures to curtail the spread of this deadly but completely curable disease, whose treatment is, in economic terms, cost effective.

Keywords Globalisation, Tuberculosis, Multidrug Resistance TB, and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR) TB.