Multidrug-Resistant tuberculosis

One of predominant contributors to global mortality is tuberculosis (TB), an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Inappropriate and ineffectual treatment can lead to the development of drug-resistant TB. One of the most common forms of drug-resistant TB is multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), caused by mutations in the rpoB and katG genes that lead to resistance to anti-TB drugs, rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH), respectively. Although culturing remains the gold standard, it is not rapid thereby delaying potential treatment and potentially increasing the incidence of MDR-TB. In contrast, molecular techniques provide a highly sensitive and specific alternative. This review discusses the classification of biomarkers used to detect MDR-TB, some of the commonly used anti-TB drugs, and DNA mutations in MTB that lead to anti-TB resistance. The objective of this review is to increase awareness of the need for rapid and precise detection of MDR-TB cases to decrease morbidity and mortality of this infectious disease worldwide.