Kolhapur: The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) has reported 18 cases of multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis and two cases of extensively drug resistant (XDR) TB in the last one year.The KMC has stepped up its efforts to detect these drug-resistant strains in the city and is eyeing to start imposing a fine on private hospitals failing to notify the civic body about TB cases.MDR TB is caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which turn resistant to the medicines such as Isoniazid and Rifampicin, which are the first line TB treatment. While in XDR-TB, the infection causing bacteria are resistant to second line of treatment.Recently, the TB control department of the KMC rolled out a daily drug regimen free of cost for the patients. This is expected to help reduce the number of MDR and XDR TB cases. Also, it has installed CBNAAT (Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) machine to detect the TB speedily and bring the patients under treatment as early as possible.Udaykumar Bhat, head of the TB control department, said, "Only those patients who are irregular in taking medicines and those not aware of the disease develop MDR and XDR TB, which can prove fatal. In such cases, the patients have to undergo treatment regimen for two or more years depending on the severity of the bacteria count."He added that the number of MDR and XDR TB cases may increase further as the detection mechanism has been rolled out only a few months ago.Since 2014, the total number of patients brought under Directly Observed Treatment Short Course, known as DOTS is 1,495 and the cure rate is around 85% every year.The KMC has set up seven microscopy centres for sputum testing and 28 centres for providing DOTS treatment. The KMC is facing tough task in identifying the actual number of patients in the city as many patients admitted in the private hospitals go unnoticed.The state government has made it mandatory for private hospitals to report the details of any TB suspect patient they treat to the local civic body."Owing to the reluctance of the doctors, the state government has proposed to impose fine of Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000 on them for failing to notify the patient. At the private hospitals, it is mandatory to provide the medications free of cost. However, the situation is completely different. The cases go unreported due to the failure of the private hospitals to notify the patients. It in turn leads to MDR or XDR cases," said Bhat.

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