Work

A catastrophic seven-year course of drug-resistant tuberculosis and lessons for multidisciplinary management: a case report

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: We describe the catastrophic seven-year journey of a young man with drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in China, initially managed with empiric therapy without baseline molecular testing. CASE PRESENTATION: He relapsed with rifampicin-resistant TB, complicated by empyema, bronchopleural fistula, and multiple failed surgeries. Management required prolonged, individualized therapy with severe toxicities, including linezolid-induced peripheral neuropathy, and staged thoracic reconstruction. INTERPRETATION: Although microbiological cure was achieved, the patient was left with severe post-tuberculosis lung disease and functional disability. This case highlights the consequences of omitting rapid molecular diagnostics, the essential role of multidisciplinary collaboration, and the need to extend TB care beyond microbiological cure to long-term rehabilitation. This case report is reported in accordance with the CARE guidelines.

Source: BMC Infectious Diseases

DOI: 10.1186/s12879-026-12700-4

Authors: Liang Fu, Lin Wang, Xueyong Bu, Yuping Mo, Yourou Zheng, Guofang Deng

Institutions: Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,090