Health system factors influencing management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in four European Union countries - learning from country experiences.

Background: In the European Union and European Economic Area only 38% of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients notified in 2011 completed treatment successfully at 24 months' evaluation. Socio-economic factors and patient factors such as demographic characteristics, behaviour and attitudes are associated with treatment outcomes. Characteristics of healthcare systems also affect health outcomes.

Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: An Updated Research Agenda.

Introduction: There are numerous challenges in delivering appropriate treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and the evidence base to guide those practices remains limited. We present the third updated Research Agenda for the programmatic management of drug-resistant TB (PMDT), assembled through a literature review and survey.

Methods: Publications citing the 2008 research agenda and normative documents were reviewed for evidence gaps.