Resistance to antimycobacterial drugs is a major barrier to effective treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Molecular diagnostic techniques based on the association between specific gene mutations and phenotypic resistance to certain drugs offer the opportunity to rapidly ascertain whether drug resistance is present and to alter treatment before further resistance develops. Current barriers to successful implementation of rapid diagnostics include imperfect knowledge regarding the full spectrum of mutations associated with resistance, limited utilization of molecular diagnostics where they are most needed, and the requirement for specialized laboratory facilities to perform molecular testing. Further understanding of genotypic-phenotypic correlates of resistance and streamlined implementation platforms will be necessary to optimize the public health impact of molecular resistance testing for M. tuberculosis.

中文翻译：

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结核分枝杆菌感染的分子诊断。

对抗分枝杆菌药物的耐药性是有效治疗结核分枝杆菌感染的主要障碍。基于特定基因突变和对某些药物的表型抗性之间的关联的分子诊断技术提供了机会，可以快速确定是否存在抗药性，并在进一步产生抗药性之前改变治疗方法。成功实施快速诊断的当前障碍包括与抗药性有关的突变全谱知识不全，最需要使用分子诊断的局限性，以及对进行分子检测的专门实验室设施的要求。