FLASHBACK: Future Doctors™ S3E1

The 1st Episode of Future Doctors™ Season 3 went on as planned on Monday with 2 speakers, Sakhtiswaran Rajasekar, 5th Year and Alan Na, 5th Year. Under the theme "UNDERSTANDING TUBERCULOSIS", the topics were " Primary and Post-Primary TB" and " Treatment of Pulmonary TB respectively".

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="368" caption="Sakhtis, making a point."][/caption]

During his presentation, Sakhtis spoke enthusiastically on Mycobacterium Tuberculosis as the main etiological factor, brought us through a journey into the past, highlighting that TB has actually been around since pre-historic times. Among the startling statistics he presented were:

• A third of the world's population are thought to be infected with M. tuberculosis.


• In 2007 there were an estimated 13.7 million chronic active cases, 9.3 million new cases, and 1.8 million deaths


• TB is the leading cause of death from a single infection in adults.


• 1 in 10 to 1 in 20 of the people infected with TB actually get sick.

He further elaborated on the classification and types of Pulmonary TB, coupled with explanation of corresponding X-Ray pictures.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="368" caption="Alan, explaining the treatment regimen of PTB"][/caption]

On the treatment of Pulmonary TB, Alan based his presentation on 2 practice guidelines, namely the WHO Treatment of Tuberculosis, 4th Edition 2009 and the Malaysian Practice Guideline on Control and Management of Tuberculosis, 2nd Edition, 2002. He elaborated a great deal on the treatment algorithm, medications, their mechanisms of action and the corresponding side effects.

Worth mentioning also is the treatment strategy DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course)  which apparently have a cure rate of up to 95% even in the poorest countries.

Generally, the session was rather informative as the presenters were well versed with the materials. They managed to present in a simple and relevant manner as well as answered all questions put forward.

Presentations can be viewed here:

Primary and Post-Primary Tuberculosis, Sakhtiswaran Rajasekar.


Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Alan Na.