title: Expedited detection of drug resistance in tuberculosis patients.
abstract: The increase in disease-causing organisms resistant to standard drug therapy has captured the attention of the medical community and the lay press. Drug resistance in rapidly growing bacteria can be detected within a short period. However, in the case of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, detection may take weeks. This paper examines the current methods available to determine drug susceptibility in M tuberculosis. These laboratory methods can be used as a model to assist the clinician in making rational decisions when managing patients with potentially resistant bacterial infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Heifets
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003470:Culture Media; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D000362:Agar