Serial measurements of transrenal mycobacterial DNA as indicators of the early bactericidal activity (EBA) of antituberculosis drugs

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death attributed to a single pathogen worldwide [5]. Emerging drug resistances of Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenges the global TB control in recent years. Multi-drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB), that are resistant to the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs rifampicin and isoniazid, are associated with poor therapy outcomes [3]. In order to improve treatment outcomes in MDR-TB new anti-TB drugs will be needed [4]. The standard method to measure the anti-TB activity of single agents or regimens is the increase in time to culture positivity (TTP) or the decrease of colony forming unit (CFU) counts of serial sputum specimens collected up to 14 days after treatment initiation [1].
Source: Tuberculosis - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research