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Review
. 2014 Jun;14(3):279-85.
doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-3-279.

Multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis: a review of current concepts and future challenges

Gunar Günther  1
Affiliations
Review

Multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis: a review of current concepts and future challenges

Gunar Günther. Clin Med (Lond). 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis are recent global health issues, which makes tuberculosis - after the success of short course treatment during the second half of the last century - a major health challenge. Globalisation, health inequalities, competing economic interests and political instability contribute substantially to the spread of drug-resistant strains, which are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Issues such as increasing transmission of drug-resistant strains, poor diagnostic coverage and a lengthy, toxic treatment need to be overcome by innovative approaches to tuberculosis control, prevention, diagnostics and treatment. This review addresses recent developments and future concepts.

Keywords: Drug-resistant; anti-tuberculosis drugs; resistance testing; tuberculosis; tuberculosis control.

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References

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