The future of molecular diagnostics for drug-resistant tuberculosis

Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2012 May;12(4):395-405. doi: 10.1586/erm.12.25.

Abstract

The last decade has seen significant advances in tuberculosis diagnostics and drug susceptibility testing (DST). During the same time period the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis has increased and therefore it has become critical to understand DST for medications used to treat multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. This review describes recent molecular diagnostic advances for DST. Recommendations are provided for clinicians interpreting molecular DST and we describe potential opportunities for the field.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents