The state saw 215 the year before, following a record low of 196 in 2011, according to a press release from the department.
By coordinating medical care and local public health activity, following up with close contacts of active cases where transmission may have occurred, and through the work of the state's TB nurses and community health workers, Massachusetts has dramatically reduced the incidence of active TB over the past decade, according to the release. This ongoing work will help Massachusetts battle the drug-resistant forms of TB.
"We owe great thanks to the medical community, local public health officials, and the staff at the Hinton State Laboratory Institute for their work in containing TB," said DPH Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett, who joined other health officials and providers at a Statehouse event held by the Medical Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Tuberculosis to commemorate Monday as World Tuberculosis Day.
"The dramatic increase in multi-drug resistant-TB cases is very concerning, and requires the state and local health departments to maintain their vigilance on all TB cases to contain the spread of these serious infections."
The state reported a record number of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases in 2013, mirroring national and worldwide trends. Of a total of 201 active (mostly infectious) TB cases reported statewide, a total of seven cases were resistant to the two antibiotics most commonly used to treat TB. These MDR-TB cases are more difficult to treat, requiring up to two years of intensive medical care to cure.
"The rise in multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in Massachusetts comes at the same time that we're seeing record low numbers of infectious TB cases here," said state epidemiologist Dr. Alfred DeMaria Jr. "It will take a continued, concentrated partnership between clinical providers, local health departments, state public health nurses, community health workers, and epidemiologists to diagnose cases, manage treatment, and investigate contacts for possible exposure in order to limit the spread of MDR-TB."
Tuberculosis is a serious disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body such as the brain, kidneys or spine. In most cases, TB is treatable; however TB can be deadly, and may remain transmissible, without proper treatment.
The current rise in MDR-TB in Massachusetts parallels national and global trends.
More information about tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment can be found at www.cdc.gov/tb