Short, highly effective, and inexpensive standardized treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Rationale: Based on expert opinion, the global guidelines for management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis impose lengthy and often poorly tolerated treatments.

Objectives: This observational study evaluates the effectiveness of standardized regimens for patients with proven multidrug-resistant tuberculosis previously untreated with second-line drugs in low-income countries.

Methods: Consenting patients were sequentially assigned to one of six standardized treatment regimens.