Treatment Outcomes in Extensively Resistant Tuberculosis

Abstract

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, which is defined as tuberculosis that is resistant to rifampin, isoniazid, a fluoroquinolone, and a second-line injectable agent, poses a major challenge for global health.^1-4 There are few published data from studies comparing treatment outcomes for patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis with the outcomes for patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, which is defined as tuberculosis that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin.