Relapse-free cure from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Germany

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB), defined by bacillary resistance against rifampicin and isoniazid, has been identified as a global threat to mankind [1]. According to the latest report by the European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control, and World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for Europe, only approximately 50% of MDR-TB patients in Europe reach favourable treatment outcomes [2]. Successful treatment outcomes are achieved for less than 25% of patients with extensively drug-resistant (XDR)-TB (MDR plus resistance against a least one fluoroquinolone and one second-line injectable drug) in the European Union/European Economic Area Countries [2]. Under optimal conditions we observed similar rates of relapse-free cure in patients with M/XDR-TB and non-M/XDR-TB We thank Cordula Ehlers, Jessica Hofmeister, Franziska Daduna, Nelleke Smitsmann, and Dagmar Schaub for the study management and data entry.