Fluoroquinolones for TB: Not Ready for Prime Time

New drugs to treat TB are badly needed. Fluoroquinolones have demonstrated in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including strains resistant to other agents. They are currently recommended for treating patients who are infected with multi-drug-resistant strains or are intolerant of first-line agents. However, the role of fluoroquinolones as first-line therapy for TB remains unclear. Two recent studies shed further light on this …