Multidrug Resistance in Mycobacteria

The genus Mycobacterium includes some of the most common causes of human morbidity and mortality worldwide. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a commonly cited example, resulting in almost 10 million new cases of tuberculosis and 1.5 million deaths each year, although in some regions, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) probably cause more disease. Mycobacteria represent challenging pathogens, as they are intrinsically resistant to many commonly used antimicrobials. Therefore, with the acquisition of mutations conferring additional resistance phenotypes, these pathogens can readily lead to disease with essentially no effective chemotherapeutic options. This review provides a brief overview of the broad spectrum of mycobacterial resistance to antimicrobials and the limitations it places on therapeutic options.