South African centre to research MDR-TB (multidrug-resistant tuberculosis) care:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
South Africa has opened an airborne-infection research facility aimed at studying the transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), amid concern at its high incidence and mortality and the need to improve infection control and disease management. The HJE Schultz Santa Centre in Witbank is a joint venture involving South Africa's Medical Research Council, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Harvard School of Public Health, among others. The development of MDR-TB is attributed to poorly managed TB - resulting from inadequately monitored or early termination of treatment. The new centre will seek to improve disease management policy. MDR-TB is associated with South Africa's high AIDS-related mortality, and is 100 times more costly to treat than TB, according to Dr Karin Weyer, head of TB at the MRC.