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V. B. Patel, N. Padayatchi, A. I. Bhigjee, J. Allen, B. Bhagwan, A. A. Moodley, T. Mthiyane, Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculous Meningitis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 38, Issue 6, 15 March 2004, Pages 851–856, https://doi.org/10.1086/381973
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Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is well described in the literature. Reports of MDR TB meningitis (MDR-TBM), however, are limited to case reports and a single case series. During the period of 1999–2002, 350 patients with TBM were identified by cerebrospinal fluid culture for TB. Thirty patients (8.6%) had TB that was resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin. All 30 patients were included in this study. We reviewed hospital charts of the patients with MDR-TBM and describe our experience. Seventeen patients with MDR-TBM died, and, of those who were known to be alive, many experienced significant morbidity. Eighteen patients were HIV positive. Twenty-two patients had been treated for TB in the past, 3 patients had received no previous treatment for TB, and the history of TB treatment was unknown for 5 patients. The study highlights the prevalence of MDR-TBM and identifies new challenges in the management of affected patients.