What should be done if a person has been in contact with a known or suspect case of XDR-TB?
Anyone who has been in contact with someone known, or suspected of having, XDR-TB should consult their doctor or a local TB clinic and be screened to see if they have TB. This is most important if the person has any symptoms of TB (see No. 13 above). If they have a cough, they will be asked to provide a sample of sputum, which will be tested for evidence of TB. Several other tests will be performed in the clinic, including a skin test and a chest radiograph. If TB is found, treatment will be started with the drugs to which the person’s TB is most likely to respond. If there is any evidence of infection with TB bacteria but without TB disease, preventive treatment may be given (the choice of drugs will depend upon the known drug resistance pattern) or the person may simply be asked to attend regularly for a check up.
