Limited Capability for Testing Mycobacterium tuberculosis for Susceptibility to New Drugs

Abstract

We surveyed availability of phenotypic drug susceptibility testing for drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Europe. Of 27 laboratories, 17 tested for linezolid, 11 for clofazimine, 9 for bedaquiline, and 6 for delamanid during 2019. Our findings indicate that testing capacity for newer and repurposed tuberculosis drugs exists, but its availability is limited.

Keywords

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• bacteria
• tuberculosis and other mycobacteria
• tuberculosis
• antimicrobial resistance
• drug susceptibility