Related Articles

Mycobacterium tuberculosis: drug resistance and future perspectives.

Future Microbiol. 2009 Jun;4:597-614

Authors: Riccardi G, Pasca MR, Buroni S

TB is still a global health problem. The selection and spread of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains represents a threat for global TB control. The reappearance of TB has driven an increased interest in understanding the mechanisms of drug action and drug resistance, which could provide a significant contribution in the development of new antimicrobials. In this article, the authors describe the mode of action and the resistance mechanisms of the principal first- and second-line antitubercular agents, namely isoniazid, ethionamide, ethambutol, D-cycloserine, rifamycins, fluoroquinolones, streptomycin, linezolid and pyrazinamide. A brief outline of the seven drugs in clinical development is reported, showing how the development of new TB drugs is still required.

PMID: 19492969 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Link to Abstract at PubMed