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Brief Communications: Luca Richeldi, Katie Ewer, Monica Losi, David M. Hansell, Pietro Roversi, Leonardo M. Fabbri, and Ajit Lalvani Early Diagnosis of Subclinical Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Ann Intern Med 2004; 140: 709-713 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Early Diagnosis of Subclinical Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Nabin K. Shrestha   (14 June 2004)

Early Diagnosis of Subclinical Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis 14 June 2004
Nabin K. Shrestha, MBBS B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal Send rapid response to journal: Re: Early Diagnosis of Subclinical Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis nksmd{at}yahoo.com Nabin K. Shrestha	TO THE EDITOR: The title of the recent article by Richeldi and colleagues is misleading (1). The assay described undoubtedly helped make an early diagnosis of subclinical tuberculosis. However, its merits must not be overstated. It did not help make an early diagnosis of subclinical multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The suspicion of multidrug resistance was based on the exposure history, and only confirmed by culture at least 5 weeks later. Early diagnosis of subclinical or clinical multi-drug resistant tuberculosis would be of immense value to those of us who regularly see patients referred because of failure of or relapse after a standard regimen for tuberculosis. The assay described here does not help make that determination. Reference 1. Richeldi L, Ewer K, Losi M, Hansell DM, Roversi P, Fabbri LM, Lalvani A. Early diagnosis of subclinical multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Ann Intern Med 2004; 140: 709-13. Conflict of Interest: None declared