New drugs for tuberculosis

Abstract

In the last ten years, an unexpected resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) has occurred in industrialised countries; contributing factors are likely to include the spread of HIV infection and increasing waves of immigration. Moreover, multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are emerging, rendering older therapies largely ineffective. One approach to circumvent this situation has been the addition of antimicrobials with some in vitro antituberculosis activity, but which are marketed for other infections (particularly some quinolones and the combination of oxicillin-clavulanic acid), to current therapeutic regimens. New drugs, possibly acting on novel targets, are urgently required, as are more specific vaccines.