A worsening scenario of
drug-resistant tuberculosis has increased the need for new
treatment strategies to tackle this worldwide
emergency. There is a pressing need to simplify and shorten the current 6-month
treatment regimen for
drug-susceptible
tuberculosis.
Rifamycins and
fluoroquinolones, as well as several
new drugs, are potential candidates under evaluation. At the same
time,
treatment outcomes of
patients with
drug-resistant tuberculosis should be improved through optimizing the use of
fluoroquinolones, repurposed agents and newly developed
drugs. In this context, the
safety and tolerance of new
therapeutic approaches must be addressed.