Diagnostic delays allow tuberculosis to develop drug resistance, worsening patient outcomes

A new study reveals that the time it takes to identify which drugs kill a patient's TB strain—typically days to weeks—allows the bacteria to develop resistance, substantially reducing treatment success rates. The finding has urgent implications for diagnostic standards and treatment protocols in TB programs worldwide, particularly in resource-limited settings where delays are longest.

Originaltitel: Acquired drug resistance during the turnaround time for drug susceptibility testing impacts outcome of tuberculosis