Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), including multi- and extensively drug-resistant TB, is posing a significant challenge to effective treatment and TB control worldwide. New progress has been made in our understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs. This review provides an update on the major advances in drug resistance mechanisms since the previous publication in 2009, as well as added information on mechanisms of resistance to new drugs and repurposed agents. The recent application of whole genome sequencing technologies has provided new insight into the mechanisms and complexity of drug resistance. However, further research is needed to address the significance of newly discovered gene mutations in causing drug resistance. Improved knowledge of drug resistance mechanisms will help understand the mechanisms of action of the drugs, devise better molecular diagnostic tests for more effective DR-TB management (and for personalised treatment), and facilitate the development of new drugs to improve the treatment of this disease.

Variants of CISH are associated with susceptibility to diseases caused by diverse infectious pathogens, suggesting that negative regulators of cytokine signaling have a role in immunity against various infectious diseases. The overall risk of one of these infectious diseases was increased by at least 18% among persons carrying the variant CISH alleles.

Much remains unknown about latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Existing immunodiagnostic tools for this condition have various limitations, most importantly in their ability to predict disease. Randomised controlled trials have established protective efficacy of isoniazid therapy for 6-12 months among non-HIV-infected and HIV-infected subjects. While efficacy may reach 90%, acceptance and adherence to prolonged therapy are less than desired. Rifampicin plus pyrazinamide for 2 months, though efficacious, has been associated with excess hepatotoxicity in non-HIV-infected persons. Isoniazid plus rifampicin for 3 months has proven efficacy, but adverse effects may be more frequent than isoniazid or rifampicin monotherapy. Rifampicin monotherapy for 3-4 months is well tolerated, but efficacy data are currently limited, and concerns remain over possible selection of rifampicin-resistant mutants. For contacts of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, expert opinions differ on whether to treat with at least two drugs or just a fluoroquinolone, and for how long. With the existing diagnostic and treatment tools, efficacy of preventive therapy does not necessarily translate into field effectiveness. A targeted approach is required to maximise cost-effectiveness. Each geographic region needs to set its own priority after taking into account available scientific data and local circumstances.

Clinically significant interactions occurring during antituberculous chemotherapy principally involve rifampicin (rifampin), isoniazid and the fluoroquinolones. Such interactions between the antituberculous drugs and coadministered agents are definitely much more important than among antituberculous drugs themselves. These can be associated with consequences even amounting to therapeutic failure or toxicity. Most of the interactions are pharmacokinetic rather than pharmacodynamic in nature. The cytochrome P450 isoform enzymes are responsible for many interactions (especially those involving rifampicin and isoniazid) during drug biotransformation (metabolism) in the liver and/or intestine. Generally, rifampicin is an enzyme inducer and isoniazid acts as an inhibitor. The agents interacting significantly with rifampicin include anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, anti-infectives, cardiovascular therapeutics, contraceptives, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, psychotropics, sulphonylureas and theophyllines. Isoniazid interacts principally with anticonvulsants, theophylline, benzodiapines, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and some food. Fluoroquinolones can have absorption disturbance due to a variety of agents, especially the metal cations. Other important interactions of fluoroquinolones result from their enzyme inhibiting potential or pharmacodynamic mechanisms. Geriatric and immunocompromised patients are particularly at risk of drug interactions during treatment of their tuberculosis. Among the latter, patients who are HIV infected constitute the most important group. This is largely because of the advent of new antiretroviral agents such as the HIV protease inhibitors and the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in the armamenterium of therapy. Compounding the complexity of drug interactions, underlying medical diseases per se may also contribute to or aggravate the scenario. It is imperative for clinicians to be on the alert when treating tuberculosis in patients with difficult co-morbidity requiring polypharmacy. With advancement of knowledge and expertise, it is hoped that therapeutic drug monitoring as a new paradigm of care can enable better management of these drug interactions.

Mycobacterium abscessus complex is a group of rapidly growing mycobacteria, and an emerging cause of non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic lung diseases, such as bronchiectasis. M. abscessus complex is the most drug-resistant of the mycobacterial pathogens, resulting in limited therapeutic options and a high treatment failure rate. M. abscessus complex is comprised of three closely related subspecies: M. abscessus (sensu stricto), M. massiliense and M. bolletii. M. abscessus encodes a functional erythromycin ribosomal methylase gene, erm(41), which modifies the binding site for macrolide antibiotics, causing inducible macrolide resistance. However, this inducible macrolide resistance is not seen in M. massiliense, as the erm(41) gene of this subspecies is non-functional. Accordingly, treatment success rates with macrolide-based antibiotic treatment are much higher in patients with M. massiliense infections than in those infected with M. abscessus. Precise speciation of M. abscessus complex is important for predicting antibiotic susceptibilities and patient outcome.