Molecular techniques in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the detection of drug resistance

M. Caws*, Francis Drobniewski

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Early diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis disease is crucial in initiating treatment and interrupting the train of transmission. The increasing incidence of MDR TB worldwide has also placed emphasis on the need for early detection of drug resistance, particularly to isoniazid and rifampicin. Molecular diagnostic techniques and automated culture systems have reduced turn-around times in the modern mycobacteriology laboratory, and the continuing evaluation and development of such techniques is increasing the use of molecular technology in developed nations. Simple phenotypic methods for the detection of resistance to first-line drugs and genotypic kit-form assays for detection of rifampicin resistance have been developed that have become key tools in the containment of MDR TB.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)138-145
Number of pages8
JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume953
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2001

Bibliographical note

Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Drug resistance
  • Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • TB microbiology

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