This review presents the evidence that supports the use of thioridazine (TZ) for the therapy of a pulmonary tuberculosis infection regardless of its antibiotic resistance status. The evidence consists of in vitro and ex vivo assays that demonstrate the activity of TZ against all encountered Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) regardless of its antibiotic resistance phenotype, as well as in vivo as a therapy for mice infected with multi-drug resistant strains of Mtb, or for human subjects infected with extensively drug resistant (XDR) Mtb. The mechanisms of action by which TZ brings about successful therapeutic outcomes are presented in detail.
Keywords: antibiotic resistant pulmonary tuberculosis; enhancement of intracellular killing of Mtb by thioridazine; ex vivo activity; in vitro activity; in vivo activity (murine model and human trails); mechanism of actions of thioridazine; the non-killing macrophage; thioridazine.