Treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis

Abstract

Lancelot Pinto1,2, Dick Menzies1,21Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Montreal Chest Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada; 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaClinical 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: drug-resistant tuberculosis, MDR-TB, treatment