title: Rediscovering high technology from the past: thoracic surgery is back on track for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
abstract: The global emergence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB represents a core challenge for global tuberculosis control. MDR-TB and extensively drug-resistant TB are more difficult to treat and have a worse outcome compared with drug-susceptible disease. Surgery has proved to improve treatment success in MDR-TB patients. This study was designed to assess the impact of surgery in a cohort of MDR-TB patients. The authors evaluate one of the largest cohorts treated by a single center, demonstrating that specialized thoracic surgery centers may achieve excellent results with a low rate of complications after surgery, and proposing an effective model of teamwork based on pulmonologists and surgeons. A review of the evidence supporting the role of surgery in addition to chemotherapy to improve treatment outcomes in difficult-to-treat cases of TB is also performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pontali
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matteelli
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosio
authors.forename: Rosella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Centis
authors.forename: Giovanni Battista
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Migliori