ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is when the germs that cause tuberculosis (TB) are able to resist multiple drugs that are usually effective in treating the disease. This means that the usual medications that doctors use to treat TB do not work as well against certain strains of the disease, making it harder to cure.

TB is an infection caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually attacks the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body such as the kidneys, spine or brain. TB is spread through the air by droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Doctors treat TB with antibiotics, which are medicines that kill the bacteria that cause the disease. However, some TB bacteria have developed resistance to these antibiotics, making it more difficult to get rid of them.

When TB bacteria are resistant to multiple antibiotics, it can be referred to as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis or MDR-TB. This is a serious form of the disease that requires more aggressive treatment and can take longer to cure.

To treat MDR-TB, doctors usually use a combination of antibiotics that are still effective against the resistant strains of the bacteria. However, these medicines can be more toxic and have more side effects than the usual treatments for TB.

Since MDR-TB can be harder to treat and cure, it is important to take steps to prevent the spread of TB in the first place. This includes getting vaccinated if possible, practicing good hygiene (like washing your hands regularly), and avoiding close contact with people who have TB.

Overall, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is a type of TB disease that can be harder to cure than the usual form of TB because the bacteria have developed resistance to the antibiotics that are usually effective in treating TB. In order to prevent MDR-TB, it is important to take steps to prevent the spread of TB in the first place.