Treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis

CLINICAL QUESTION: What is the best approach to the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB)? RESULTS: Evidence-based treatment of drug-susceptible TB is the best means of preventing the development of drug-resistant disease. Suspecting the possibility of drug-resistant TB, and prompt detection of all forms of drug-resistant TB, not only multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB, should be part of the algorithm for diagnosis and management of all patients with active TB. IMPLEMENTATION: Treatment of all forms of drug-resistant TB must be tailored to the specific form of resistance with appropriate and effective drug regimens.