Xpert MTB/RIF is a major advance for TB diagnostics, especially for multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB and HIV-associated TB. But implementation concerns including cost, technical support requirements, and challenging demands of providing second-line TB drugs for diagnosed MDR-TB cases call for gradual, careful introduction based on country circumstances.

Delamanid, recently available for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB), has had limited use outside clinical trials. We present the early treatment results for 53 patients from 7 countries who received a delamanid-containing treatment for MDR TB. Results show good tolerability and treatment response at 6 months.

We validated the nitrate reductase assay (NRA) for the detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) using sodium nitrate (NaNO3) in replacement of potassium nitrate (KNO3) as nitrate source. NaNO3 is cheaper than KNO3 and has no restriction on use which facilitates the implementation of NRA to detect MDR-TB.

Patients treated in Peru for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) were followed-up for a median of 67 months. Among 86 patients considered cured after completion of treatment, 97% remain healthy; 1 patient relapsed. Employment increased from 34% before treatment to 71%. We observed favorable long-term outcomes among MDR-TB patients.

Sputum culture plays an important role in monitoring treatment response in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and sputum culture conversion is a clinical tool used to predict therapeutic efficacy [1]. Monthly culture monitoring is essential for earlier detection of treatment failure in patients with MDR-TB. More sensitive signals of nonresponse would further avoid adverse ...

In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) was diagnosed for more than a third of new sputum smear-positive tuberculosis patients for whom treatment had failed. This finding suggests a significant risk for community-acquired MDR TB and a need to make rapid molecular drug susceptibility testing available to more people.

Combined fecal microbiota transfer and antibiotic treatment prevented recurrences of urinary tract infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but it failed to eradicate intestinal colonization with MDR Escherichia coli. Based on microbiota analysis, failure was not associated with distinct diminished microbiota diversity.

Since 2008, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has been collecting data from the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) on resistance to first- and second-line drugs against tuberculosis (TB). In 2008, the proportion of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) was 6.0% of the total case load for 25 countries reporting data. Extensively drug-resistant (XDR TB) ...

Treatment of gestational multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is controversial. We describe follow-up of 6 children exposed to second-line antituberculous agents in utero. Each child (average age, 3.7 years) underwent comprehensive clinical evaluation. One child had MDR-TB diagnosed. There was no evidence of significant late-presentation toxicity among the children. The results suggest tha...