title: Recent advances in molecular methods for early diagnosis of tuberculosis and drug-resistant tuberculosis.
abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) remains the main infectious cause of deaths in the world. Due to the slow metabolism of the causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the isolation, identification and drug susceptibility testing requires several weeks. New techniques have improved specificity, turnaround time and cost effectiveness. Although these methods yield results within hours from sample collection, the clinical significance of each positive result requires rigorous evaluation in most cases. Herein the advantages and disadvantages of the most promising molecular techniques for detection of TB and drug resistance are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Pathogens, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA. hazbonmh@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Manzour Hernando
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hazbón
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology; D009154:Mutation; D009160:Mycobacteriophages; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents