The clinical management of drug-resistant tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
Drug-resistant tuberculosis is a growing problem, with almost half a million cases worldwide. In spite of the difficulty in its management, drug-resistant tuberculosis can be successfully treated, even in poor settings.


RESULTS
This article will review key findings in the areas of epidemiology, diagnosis and management of drug-resistant tuberculosis, including new antituberculous drugs. The issue of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis will also be reviewed and discussed. Finally, novel approaches to the management of drug-resistant tuberculosis in populations with HIV, as well as in pediatric populations, among pregnant women, and among patients requiring surgical therapy, will be reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
New advances in the diagnosis and management of drug-resistant tuberculosis allow for excellent clinical outcomes to be achieved, even in difficult-to-treat populations. This is possible with timely diagnosis of disease and rapid initiation of appropriate therapy in supported settings.
Furin
Jennifer
J
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Division of Social Medicine and Health Inequalities, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02120, USA. jfurin@partners.org
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
D000995:Antitubercular Agents