How to Pronounce Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Pronunciation
MUL-tee DRUG reh-ZIS-tent too-BER-kyoo-LOH-sis
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
MUL
stress here
tee DRUG reh
ZIS
stress here
tent too
BER
stress here
kyoo
LOH
stress here
sis
8 syllables
What is Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis?
A form of tuberculosis caused by bacteria that do not respond to the two most powerful anti-TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin, making it far more difficult and expensive to treat. It requires longer treatment with more toxic second-line drugs.
Questions About Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
How do you pronounce 'multi-drug resistant tuberculosis'?
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Say it like this: MUL-tee DRUG reh-ZIS-tent too-BER-kyoo-LOH-sis. Break it into chunks and say each part separately, then speed up. The loudest part is the first syllable of each main word: MUL-tee, DRUG, reh-ZIS-tent, and too-BER-kyoo-LOH-sis.
Which syllable gets the stress in this word?
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The stress falls on MUL in 'multi,' DRUG stays strong on its own, ZIS in 'resistant,' and BER in 'tuberculosis.' A common mistake is stressing the wrong part of 'tuberculosis'—remember it's too-BER-kyoo-LOH-sis, not too-ber-kyoo-LOH-sis.
What does 'multi-drug' mean in this term?
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'Multi' means many, so 'multi-drug' means more than one drug. In this case, it refers to bacteria that don't respond to multiple anti-tuberculosis medicines, not just one.
What does 'resistant' mean here?
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'Resistant' means the bacteria can fight off or survive something that normally would kill it—in this case, certain tuberculosis medications. It's the same word used when we talk about antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
What is the short form or abbreviation for this condition?
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The abbreviation is MDR-TB, which stands for Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. Doctors and nurses often use 'MDR-TB' as a quicker way to say it. You pronounce the letters: M-D-R T-B.
What does 'tuberculosis' come from?
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'Tuberculosis' comes from the Latin word 'tuberculum,' which means a small bump or nodule. The disease was named this way because it causes small bumps to form in the lungs when looked at under a microscope.
How would you use this term in a simple sentence?
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You might hear: 'The patient was diagnosed with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, which requires a different treatment plan than regular tuberculosis.' Or: 'MDR-TB is a more serious form of the infection to manage.'
What other words share the 'TB' root?
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Words like 'tubercle' (a small rounded bump), 'tubercular' (relating to tubercles), and just plain 'tuberculosis' all come from the same Latin root meaning a small lump or swelling.