A case of extremely resistant tuberculosis has been detected in Catalonia.

Tuberculosis is a contagious disease that is booming worldwide: 10.8 million cases are detected each year, 1.25 million of which result in death, especially in poorer countries, according to the Barcelona Tuberculosis Research Unit (UITB). They rule out the possibility of more infected people linked to this outbreak. "Well," claims the Deputy Director General of Surveillance and Emergency Response at Public Health, Jacobo Mendioroz, in statements to ARA. The patient is a person with a "history of serious social problems and substance use" who was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in 2022. After completing it, he went to live in another autonomous community. There was no follow-up there either, and healthcare professionals lost track of him until the beginning of this year, again in Catalonia. Two and a half years after the diagnosis, he continued in "a precarious situation and with low adherence to treatment," anti-tuberculosis treatment and also support for other health problems. It was precisely during this admission that it was detected that it is a case of extremely resistant tuberculosis, and Public Health believes it is a consequence of social vulnerability and poor previous adherence to treatments. The Department of Health clarifies that it is no more contagious than other forms of tuberculosis.

However, cases like the one detected last week present "significant difficulties" for proper treatment, as they are resistant to the drugs normally used to combat the disease. Therefore, it is very important that they are detected and reported quickly in order to activate control measures as soon as possible. Mendioroz explained that these types of cases are closely related to the social vulnerability of individuals, who have greater difficulty following treatment, and if it is not followed to the end, resistance develops.

Specifically, there are several drugs that work against tuberculosis, but if treatment is not followed as directed, the disease becomes increasingly resistant. In these cases, it is necessary to implement "a comprehensive approach that includes the clinical, epidemiological, and social aspects, centered on the person," explains Public Health. Mendioroz asserts that they detected this case at "one of the last stages" of resistance, before all available treatments no longer work: "This shows that the system works and allows us to reach groups as difficult to treat as this one."