Previously licensed anti-mycobacterial drugs: a re-appraisal.

Volume 18 , Issue 2 , February 2016 , Pages 173-196

Authors

¹ School of Science-Sulaimani University, Sulaimaniyah-Iraq

The discovery of antimycobacterial agent was the outcome of intensive efforts made between 1930

and 1970 to identify antimicrobial drugs. Sulfonamides (1930s), Streptomycin (1944) and Rifampicin

(1965) are first and the last of the anti-mycobacterial drugs currently in use. Despite the availability

of effective anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, significant morbidity and mortality due to this disease

continue to occur. The emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensively-drug

resistant (XDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has more complicated the problem of

tuberculosis (TB) control and reduced the effectiveness of the current anti-TB drug. The present

situation clearly demonstrates the need for a re-evaluation of our knowledge to treating TB and the

current TB drugs. One of the highest achievements of modern medicine has been the development of

antibiotics for the treatment of lethal infections. Unfortunately, the progress for new drugs against

tuberculosis has been very inadequate over the past four decades. In the fight against emerging MDR

and XDR resistance we can no longer rely completely on the finding of new antibiotics; we must also

follow rational approaches to the use of older antibiotics such as sulfonamide. This review provides

a concise historical of previously licensed drugs for treatment of tuberculosis and the targets and their

mode of action of these drugs are briefly discussed.

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