Treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis

Infect Drug Resist. 2011:4:129-35. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S10332. Epub 2011 Jul 21.

Abstract

Clinical question: What is the best approach to the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB)?

Results: Evidence-based treatment of drug-susceptible TB is the best means of preventing the development of drug-resistant disease. Suspecting the possibility of drug-resistant TB, and prompt detection of all forms of drug-resistant TB, not only multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB, should be part of the algorithm for diagnosis and management of all patients with active TB.

Implementation: Treatment of all forms of drug-resistant TB must be tailored to the specific form of resistance with appropriate and effective drug regimens.

Keywords: MDR-TB; drug-resistant tuberculosis; treatment.