MDR-TB
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
MDR-TB stands for Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, an infectious disease abbreviation.
Tuberculosis resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, the two most powerful first-line drugs. Shorter all-oral regimens built around bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid have replaced the older 18–24-month treatments that required daily injections.
Example: GeneXpert detects rifampin resistance; presumptive MDR-TB, start BPaLM regimen pending full susceptibilities.
Usage notes
Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) was redefined by the WHO in 2021 as MDR-TB also resistant to a fluoroquinolone and to bedaquiline or linezolid. Rapid molecular tests detect rifampin resistance within hours. The WHO recommended six-month BPaL-based regimens in 2022. India, the Philippines and Russia carry large shares of the global burden.
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- ILI – Influenza-like illness
- IRIS – Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome
- KS – Kaposi sarcoma
- LAIV – Live attenuated influenza vaccine
- LTBI – Latent tuberculosis infection
- MAC – Mycobacterium avium complex
- MDRO – Multidrug-resistant organism
- MERS – Middle East respiratory syndrome
- MIC – Minimum inhibitory concentration
- MRSA – Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- MSM – Men who have sex with men
- MSSA – Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.