Mercedes C. Becerra

TL;DR: It is shown that it is possible to carry out an HIV treatment programme in a poor community in rural Haiti, and it is suggested that directly-observed therapy of chronic infectious disease with multidrug regimens can be highly effective in settings of great privation as long as there is sustained commitment to uninterrupted care that is free to the patient.

TL;DR: Findings from a collaborative, individual patient-level meta-analysis of treatment outcomes among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis are reported.

TL;DR: Community-based outpatient treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis can yield high cure rates even in resource-poor settings and early initiation of appropriate therapy can preserve susceptibility to first-line drugs and improve treatment outcomes.

TL;DR: Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis can be cured in HIV-negative patients through outpatient treatment, even in those who have received multiple prior courses of therapy for tuberculosis.

TL;DR: MDR-TB can and should be addressed therapeutically in resource-poor settings; starting of treatment early is crucial; aggressive treatment regimens and high-end dosing are recommended; and strategies to improve treatment adherence, such as directly observed therapy, should be used.