Research summary
Tuberculosis is a serious lung disease that can affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, kidneys or spine. In most cases, it is treatable and curable. But some strains are resistant to multiple available drug treatments.
Dr. Richard Menzies, Canada Research Chair in Tuberculosis Research, is studying the use of a new drug called rifampin to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis. His past research found four months’ rifampin treatment to be safer, cheaper and just as effective as existing treatments to prevent tuberculosis in children and adults. Using patient data contributed by national tuberculosis programmes, Menzies and his research team are now assessing solutions to improve tuberculosis treatment. Their research includes the cascade of care used to treat latent tuberculosis (symptomless infection). They are also studying the use of two months’ high-dose rifampin to prevent tuberculosis and alternative strategies to diagnose latent tuberculosis.