PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - D. Falzon AU - E. Jaramillo AU - H.J. Schünemann AU - M. Arentz AU - M. Bauer AU - J. Bayona AU - L. Blanc AU - J.A. Caminero AU - C.L. Daley AU - C. Duncombe AU - C. Fitzpatrick AU - A. Gebhard AU - H. Getahun AU - M. Henkens AU - T.H. Holtz AU - J. Keravec AU - S. Keshavjee AU - A.J. Khan AU - R. Kulier AU - V. Leimane AU - C. Lienhardt AU - C. Lu AU - A. Mariandyshev AU - G.B. Migliori AU - F. Mirzayev AU - C.D. Mitnick AU - P. Nunn AU - G. Nwagboniwe AU - O. Oxlade AU - D. Palmero AU - P. Pavlinac AU - M.I. Quelapio AU - M.C. Raviglione AU - M.L. Rich AU - S. Royce AU - S. Rüsch-Gerdes AU - A. Salakaia AU - R. Sarin AU - D. Sculier AU - F. Varaine AU - M. Vitoria AU - J.L. Walson AU - F. Wares AU - K. Weyer AU - R.A. White AU - M. Zignol TI - WHO guidelines for the programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis: 2011 update AID - 10.1183/09031936.00073611 DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 516--528 VI - 38 IP - 3 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/3/516.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/3/516.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - The production of guidelines for the management of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) fits the mandate of the World Health Organization (WHO) to support countries in the reinforcement of patient care. WHO commissioned external reviews to summarise evidence on priority questions regarding case-finding, treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), monitoring the response to MDR-TB treatment, and models of care. A multidisciplinary expert panel used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to develop recommendations. The recommendations support the wider use of rapid drug susceptibility testing for isoniazid and rifampicin or rifampicin alone using molecular techniques. Monitoring by sputum culture is important for early detection of failure during treatment. Regimens lasting ≥20 months and containing pyrazinamide, a fluoroquinolone, a second-line injectable drug, ethionamide (or prothionamide), and either cycloserine or p-aminosalicylic acid are recommended. The guidelines promote the early use of antiretroviral agents for TB patients with HIV on second-line drug regimens. Systems that primarily employ ambulatory models of care are recommended over others based mainly on hospitalisation. Scientific and medical associations should promote the recommendations among practitioners and public health decision makers involved in MDR-TB care. Controlled trials are needed to improve the quality of existing evidence, particularly on the optimal composition and duration of MDR-TB treatment regimens.