Dealing with threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis: Background information for interpreting the Andrew Speaker and related cases

Abstract

It remains unclear how Speaker became infected with XDR-TB. Additionally, it may never be known whether he understood the fact that he had a serious and potentially communicable form of TB and still chose to ignore medical advice or whether he simply did not understand all the implications of his diagnosis. His trans-Atlantic multicountry odyssey highlights the fact yet again that spread of infectious agents via global air travel remains a very real threat and that international cooperation remains vital to limit the spread of infections. Moreover, this case draws attention to the fact that TB remains a great threat to humanity worldwide; in the words of US Representatives Eliot L. Engel and Gene Green "We'll get nowhere on TB till we tackle it everywhere. " 25 . © 2007 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.