Early and rapid microscopy-based diagnosis of true treatment failure and MDR-TB.

Abstract

We can confirm that FDA staining allows rapid screening for viable acid-fast bacilli and true treatment failure in delayed smear converters or smear-defined failures, while slide DST assures fast and accurate confirmation of MDR-TB in selected populations. The tests can be applied safely in resource-poor settings. Their successive use could be an efficient strategy for screening and an early start on standardised regimens of DOTS-Plus candidates.