Antibiotic Resistance in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) antibiotic resistance presents an important challenge to the treatment of mycobacterial infections. The therapeutic approaches are complicated by the resistance of both MTB and NTM to a variety of antibiotics. Resistance to first-line drugs such as isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and streptomycin has been consistently increasing in MTB, underscoring the necessity of effective treatment strategies. Conversely, the necessity of species-specific treatment regimens is underscored by the high resistance rates of NTM species, such as Mycobacterium avium complex, M. kansasii, and M. abscessus complex, to commonly used anti-tuberculosis pharmaceuticals. A combination of intrinsic and acquired factors are involved in the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in these mycobacteria. Features such as biofilm formation, thick cell walls, and reduced drug uptake are responsible for intrinsic resistance in NTM, whereas acquired resistance can develop as a result of protracted antibiotic exposure. Understanding these resistance mechanisms is essential for the development of new therapies and the prevention of the increasing prevalence of drug resistance in mycobacterial infections. The significance of continuous surveillance, species-specific treatment protocols, and the development of novel antimicrobial agents to effectively manage mycobacterial diseases is emphasized by the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in MTB and NTM. This review article focuses on the molecular mechanisms that have resulted in the development of resistance in both MTB and NTMs, as well as the extent to which various classes of antimycobacterial drugs act.