Preface

The emergence of highly drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) threatens to undermine global advances in tuberculosis (TB) control, and challenges the goal of elimination of TB in the 21st century; unfortunately, despite rampant drug resistance in many regions of the world, TB is still extremely unpopular as a field of interest for clinicians, policy makers and the media.

We have unfortunately witnessed an accelerated progression in resistance in many of the high TB-burden countries: multidrug-resistant TB being followed by extensively drug-resistant which in turn has been followed by what has been called totally drug-resistant TB which represents the most extreme form of amplified drug resistance.

The main objective of this practical guide is to help those physicians who are not experts in drug resistant tuberculosis, but have to diagnose and treat such cases in everyday practice. It includes a description of the latest diagnostic tests and treatment regimens for the different types of drug resistant tuberculosis. In the last chapter we have included a series of hypothetical cases to illustrate some of the most frequent problems encountered while treating patients “in the real world”. I sincerely hope that this work meets its goal.