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.

The document summarises the current knowledge on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of adults and children with MDR/XDR-TB and their contacts, and provides expert consensus recommendations on questions where scientific evidence is still lacking.