Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

Pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis with M. tuberculosis resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin (MDR-TB) or additionally to fluoroquinolones and injectable agents (XDR-TB). Therapy is prolonged and conducted in specialized centers.

ICD-10 A151 drug

Also known as: MDR-TB, XDR-TB, Drug-resistant tuberculosis

Drugs used for this condition

ALinezolidFirst line · Oxazolidinone antibioticLinezolid is part of the first-line MDR-TB regimen (BPaL/BPaLM) per WHO 2022: bedaquiline + pretomanid + linezolid +/- moxifloxacin for 6 months. Shortening therapy from 18–24 to 6 months is a major shift in MDR-TB management. Linezolid is started at 600 mg/day and reduced to 300 mg or interrupted for hematologic toxicity.

How to read tiers A–F

Evidence tiers belong to the drug-indication pair, not to the drug as a whole: the same substance can be A for one condition and F for another.

AStrong evidence – first or second line in international guidelines
BRecommended in selected cases
CStudy data contradict each other
DBenefit not proven, no documented harm
FDocumented harm, or risk without benefit