What tuberculosis can teach us about combating multidrug-resistant Gram negative bacilli

Ritu Banerjee; Jeffrey R Starke

doi:10.1016/j.jctube.2016.03.004

What tuberculosis can teach us about combating multidrug-resistant Gram negative bacilli

J Clin Tuberc Other Mycobact Dis. 2016 Apr 1:3:28-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jctube.2016.03.004. eCollection 2016 May.

Authors

Ritu Banerjee¹, Jeffrey R Starke²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States.
² Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.

Abstract

There are striking similarities between the dual pandemics of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) and multidrug-resistant Gram negative bacilli (MDR GNB) despite fundamental differences in the pathogenesis and epidemiology of these pathogens. In this perspective, we highlight several strategies that have been used by the global TB community to address the MDR TB problem, including approaches to: encourage appropriate use of anti-TB medications, enhance appropriate utilization of molecular diagnostic testing, facilitate development of new antimicrobial agents, and strengthen surveillance systems and infection control practices. Understanding the successes and challenges of these strategies for MDR TB control will be instructive for efforts to curb emergence and spread of MDR GNB.

Keywords: GNB; Gram negative bacilli; MDR; Multidrug-resistant; TB; Tuberculosis.

Publication types

Editorial