Treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis

For discussion about risk groups and testing for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), see Drug resistance in tuberculosis.

Treatment of drug-resistant TB must be under the supervision of an expert. Directly observed therapy is recommended to minimise the development of further drug resistance, particularly extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), defined as multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) with additional resistance to quinolones and second-line parenteral drugs.

For detailed information about treatment of multidrug-resistant TB, see the Australian recommendations for the management of drug-resistant tuberculosis, 2023.