SYSTEMATIC REVIEW ON IN VITRO INVESTIGATIONS AIMED AT THE TREATMENT OF RESISTANT AND MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS

Introduction: Tuberculosis is caused by variants of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis species, mainly affecting immunocompromised individuals. In this sense, the tuberculosis bacillus in its multi-resistant (MDR) and extremely resistant (XDR) forms has claimed a growing number of victims. Today it is possible to find a vast literature that seeks precisely to expand this spectrum of therapeutic possibilities, however, an overview of current discoveries is needed. Objective: to carry out a systematic review based on the studies developed on the subject, in order to contribute to the construction of a direction for the most promising therapeutic possibilities. Method: Systematized review using in vitro studies with MDR-TB and XDR-TB strains from the MedLine database with the following search: (MDR OR XDR) AND tuberculosis AND (activity OR anti) AND in vitro. Results and Discussion: it was possible to identify a clear and conflicting emphasis on the search for therapeutic possibilities against tuberculosis caused by the MDR strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), when compared to the number of investigations against the XDR strain of MTB. Taking the first position of substances investigated against MDR, we identified the category “new drugs”. Conclusion: The panorama presented in this study was that many in vitro investigations have been carried out in order to seek alternatives for the treatment of MDR-TB, leaving XDR-TB with fewer studies and, consequently, less chance of developing drugs for its treatment.