Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: What Do We Do Now?

Authors: Telenti A.¹; Iseman M.²

Source: Drugs, Volume 59, Number 2, February 2000 , pp. 171-179(9)

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Abstract:

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) represents a threat to TB control programmes. Erratic and inappropriate use of currently available medications, HIV-TB co-infection, and concern about transmission of drug-resistant strains in the general population all contribute to a worrying picture. What do we do now? In the last few years, there has been considerable progress in the understanding of mechanisms of action and resistance to antituberculosis agents, and in establishing the value of directly observed therapy in preventing treatment failure. However, a limited effort has been devoted to the development of new active compounds or of rapid diagnostic tests, and their relevance to global tuberculosis control has been questioned.

Keywords: Antibacterials, therapeutic use; Antimicrobial resistance; Antituberculars, therapeutic use; Clarithromycin, therapeutic use; Cycloserine, therapeutic use; Ethambutol, therapeutic use; Ethionamide, therapeutic use; Isoniazid, therapeutic use; Kanamycin, therapeutic use; Pyrazinamide, therapeutic use; Quinolones, therapeutic use; Research and development; Rifampicin, therapeutic use; Streptomycin, therapeutic use; Tuberculosis, treatment

Language: English

Document Type: Leading article

Affiliations: 1: Division of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Microbiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland 2: National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado, USA *

Publication date: 2000-02-01