Tuberculosis (TB) has been one of the world's deadliest diseases. In Korea, the incidence of TB has been decreased over decades, however, TB still remains a serious health problem considering that the estimated TB incidence was 100 (per 100,000 people) in 20111.

Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and drug resistance to anti-TB drugs are critical for TB control2. Recently, an automated, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the rapid detection of both MTB and rifampin resistance was developed (Xpert MTB/RIF)3.

TB patients should take many drugs over 6 months for the treatment of TB. World Health Organization (WHO) recommended fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) for delivering anti-TB drugs owing to better patient compliance and lesser chances of developing drug resistance4.

Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB (defined as in vitro resistance to isoniazid and rifampin plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of the injectable drugs: amikacin, capreomycin, or kanamycin) is extremely difficult to treat because few effective anti-TB drugs are left available. Recently, several studies suggested that long term use of linezolid is effective in the treatment of XDR TB5.

The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease appears to be increasing worldwide including Korea. Thus diagnosis and treatment of NTM lung disease are challenging to physicians. Mycobacterium abscessus is the second most common cause of NTM lung disease, following Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex in Korea6. However, M. abscessus lung disease is difficult to treat and the optimal therapeutic regimens have not been established7. Recently, M. abscessus complex was shown to comprise three closely related species: M. abscessus, Mycobacterium massiliense, and Mycobacterium bolletii. And, M. abscessus and M. massiliense are isolated in almost equal numbers among M. abscessus complex infections in Korea8.

In this review, these recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of TB and clinical characteristics of M. massiliense lung disease are summarised. And clinical significances and applicability to clinical practice in Korea are discussed.

Traditional smear and culture-based detection of MTB and drug resistance are time consuming and show relatively low sensitivity.

Recently developed Xpert MTB/RIF detect simultaneously MTB and rifampin resistance within 2 hours3. Briefly, after 15 minutes of incubation, the mixture of sputum and buffer is pipetted into a single-use Xpert MTB/RIF cartridge, which is then loaded into the Xpert MTB/RIF machine. Then the machine automatically amplifies the genomic DNA by PCR and identifies MTB specific gene and mutations in the rpoB gene (associated with rifampin resistance). Because buffer renders MTB non-viable within 15 minutes of incubation, Xpert MTB/RIF may be performed in the absence of a biosafety cabinet. And automated system enables the assay to be performed with ease by a minimally trained technician3.

In a multi-center study, Xpert MTB/RIF test detected 90.3% of culture-confirmed cases of TB. Xpert MTB/RIF test sensitivity was 76.9% in smear-negative, culture-positive patients and specificity was 99.0%. Smear microscopy sensitivity for MTB was lower in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients compared to HIV-negative patients (44.6% vs. 68.6%, respectively). But, Xpert MTB/RIF test sensitivity for MTB was not significantly lower in HIV-positive patients compared to HIV-negative patients (82.4% vs. 90.7%, respectively)9.

Xpert MTB/RIF showed high sensitivity (98%) and positive predictive value (95%) for the diagnosis of rifampin resistance in settings with high prevalence of rifampin-resistant TB (30%). But, in a setting with lower prevalence of rifampin resistance (2%), positive predictive value of rifampin resistance was less than 50%10. Thus, positive results for rifampin resistance should be interpreted carefully considering prevalence of rifampin resistance and individual level risk factors for rifampin resistance.

These findings suggest that Xpert MTB/RIF is suitable for the detection of both MTB and rifampin resistance in underdeveloped countries where multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB and HIV infections are common and adequate laboratory services are not available11.

However, the utility of Xpert MTB/RIF may be limited in developed countries like Korea, where MDR TB and HIV infections are rare and specialized laboratory services are available for detection of MTB and rifampin resistance by traditional PCR method12. However, Xpert MTB/RIF may benefit in circumstances where rapid detection of MTB and rifampin resistance is critical in the management of TB suspected patients.

Because TB patient should take three or four different drugs simultaneously for at least 6 months, ensuring adherence to treatment and avoiding inappropriate drug regimen are important in the treatment of TB.

FDC is a formulation including two or more fixed doses of active drugs in a single dosage form.

The advantage of using FDCs in the treatment of TB is that patients have to take considerably fewer pills, thus making treatment easier, aiding adherence. Furthermore, because all drugs are provided in the same tablet, FDCs decrease the risk of developing drug resistance attributable to selective drug intake by the patient and prescription error13.

During the 1980s, substandard quality of FDCs and relatively poor bio-availability of rifampin were matters of concern14. However, current FDCs of anti-TB drugs are fully bio-equivalent to single-drug reference products, with stable efficacy15. And, several studies have shown that various combination of FDCs of first line anti-TB drugs are generally well tolerated and efficient similar to those of separate-drug regimens16.

Recently, a randomized controlled trial, conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 4-drug (rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol) FDC, also showed that 4-drug FDC regimen had an efficacy similar to that of a separate-drugs regimen17. Treatment-related adverse events were similar in both regimens. After resolution of adverse events, most patient in the FDC regimen moved to separate-drugs regimen because drugs in FDCs cannot be separated and it is difficult to identify the drug within the combination that is potentially responsible for an adverse event. Thus, patients treated with FDCs were more likely to be removed from the trial drugs than those treated with separate-drugs regimen.

Recently, 4-drug (rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol) FDC was marketed in Korea (Tubes, BCworld Pharm Co. Ltd.). And Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) as well as WHO, recommended FDC for delivering anti-TB therapy4. However, stocks of single-drug tablets also should be made available for patients who develop adverse reactions to FDCs.

Linezolid (Zyvox), a recently developed oxazolidinone antibiotics, is used for the treatment of serious infections caused by gram-positive bacteria that are resistant to several other antibiotics like vancomycin18.

Several retrospective studies suggested that long term use of linezolid may be effective in treating MDR or XDR TB5. In these studies, however, serious adverse events have been observed like neuropathies (e.g., peripheral and optic neuropathies) and myelosuppression.

Recently, a prospective, randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the effect and adverse events of linezolid in patients with chronic XDR TB who failed to show culture conversion with all other available chemotherapeutic options19. Patients were randomly assigned to linezolid therapy that started immediately or after 2 months, at a dose of 600 mg/day, without a change in their background regimen. After confirmed sputumsmear conversion or 4 months, patients underwent a second randomization to continue linezolid therapy at a dose of 600 mg/day or 300 mg/day for at least an additional 18 months, with careful toxicity monitoring.

By 4 months, immediate start group showed significantly higher culture conversion rate compared to delayed-start group (79% vs. 35%, respectively) (p=0.001). Eighty-seven percent of study patients showed sputum culture conversion within 6 months after linezolid had been added. Eighty-two percent of study patients had clinically significant adverse events related to linezolid, including 3 patients who discontinued linezolid permanently. Patients who received 300 mg/day after the second randomization had fewer adverse events (69%) than those who continued taking 600 mg/day (88%). Seventy-three percent of patients, who showed adverse event with 600 mg/day regimen, subsequently changed to 300 mg/day regimen due to adverse events.

Three patients (two in the 300 mg group, and one in the 600 mg group) failed to show culture conversion and 1 patient in the 600 mg group became culture negative but turned positive again after 1 year of treatment (relapse). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of linezolid against initial isolates of MTB from XDR TB patients were lower than peak plasma concentration of 300 mg/day group.

These findings show that linezolid is highly effective in the treatment of XDR TB. And, lower dose regimen (300 mg/day) shows similar anti-TB effect with fewer adverse events than higher dose regimen (600 mg/day). However, patients must be monitored carefully for adverse events during treatment period.

M. abscessus is a rapidly growing mycobacterium (RGM) causing a wide spectrum of disease in humans, including lung, skin, and soft tissue disease. In Korea, M. abscessus is the second most common pathogen responsible for NTM lung disease, following M. avium-intracellulare complex6.

M. abscessus is resistant to most antibiotics except some parenteral agents (amikacin, cefoxitin, imipenem) and macrolides (clarithromycin, azithromycin). Although combination therapy of intravenous amikacin with cefoxitin or imipenem and an oral macrolide has been recommended by the American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America and many other experts20, treatment response rates are not satisfactory21.

In 2004, new RGM species, named M. massiliense, which is very closely related to M. abscessus was reported22. M. abscessus was shown to comprise three closely related species: M. abscessus, M. massiliense, and M. bolletii. In Korea, M. abscessus and M. massiliense are isolated in almost equal numbers among M. abscessus complex infections, whereas M. bolletii is rare8.

Recently, a retrospective clinical study was performed to compare clinical features and treatment outcomes between patients with M. abscessus and M. massiliense lung disease who were treated as M. abscessus lung disease previously23.

The regimen for the treatment of M. abscessus lung disease was taking clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and doxycycline for at least 12 months after sputum culture conversion along with an initial 4-week course of amikacin and cefoxitin. The clinical and radiographic manifestations of disease caused by each species were similar. Drug susceptibility test showed that the resistance rate of M. abscessus and M. massiliense to clarithromycin (5% vs. 4%), amikacin (5% vs. 8%), cefoxitin (0% vs. 1%) were similar too. However, the proportion of patients with sputum culture conversion and maintenance of negative sputum cultures during the follow-up period was significantly higher in patients with M. massiliense infection (88%) than in those with M. abscessus infection (25%) (p<0.001). Inducible resistance to clarithromycin (MIC>32 mg/mL) was found in all tested M. abscessus isolates, but in none of the M. massiliense isolates. These findings suggest that the poor response of M. abscessus lung disease to treatment is due to induction of resistance to clarithromycin, an essential drug for the treatment of M. abscessus lung disease, during treatment period.

Because treatment response rates to clarithromycin-based antibiotic therapy were significantly higher in patients with M. massiliense lung disease than in those with M. abscessus lung disease, differentiation of M. massiliense from M. abscessus is important when RGM is isolated from NTM lung disease patients.