International consensus statement on molecular diagnosis of tuberculosis drug-resistance released
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) are challenging tuberculosis control globally. Early identification of patients with MDR-TB and XDR-TB and the complex pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance are key to providing each individual patient with the correct therapy. Traditionally, identification of the spectrum of bacillary drug resistance takes several weeks to a few months, leading to under-treatment or incorrect treatment in many cases.
Rapid identification of mutations in the bacillary genome that lead to antimycobacterial drug resistance is now possible with technologies such as line probe assays or by sequencing the entire M. tuberculosis genome.
For the first time, an international expert panel of the TBNET and RESIST-TB groups has jointly established a consensus on the use of the results of molecular drug resistance testing in tuberculosis. This consensus statement will guide clinicians in the choice of drugs for a more effective MDR-TB or XDR-TB regimen before the results of standard culture-based methods for drug resistance testing become available.
Read the consensus statement
Source: The Union
