Zeitschrift für molekulare Biomarker und Diagnose

A Systematic Review of Tuberculosis Diagnosis Using a Breath Test

Abstract

Karan Madan

Despite concerted efforts over the last two decades to develop new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines, tuberculosis remains a global emergency. Several novel diagnostic technologies, such as nucleic acid-based amplification tests, imaging and volatile organic compound breath analysis, show promise for improved point-of-care rapid tests for tuberculosis. Advances in new and repurposed drugs for use in multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis have focused on the development of several new drug regimens and their clinical trial evaluation and they now influence World Health Organization guidelines. Since the failure of the MVA85A vaccine two years ago, no new tuberculosis vaccine candidates have entered clinical trials.