The Use of Luciferase-Reporter Phage for Antibiotic-Susceptibility Testing of Mycobacteria
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		Prior to this decade, routine antibiotic-susceptibility testing (AST) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates was not advocated (1  ) This policy was predicated on the following assumptions:
		
			
				
	
| 1. | 
							The prevalence ofantibiotic resistance is low, occurring primarily among patients previously treated for tuberculosis (TB) who have relapsed, | 
| 2. | 
							Tuberculous infection progresses slowly, so that resistant strains of M tuberctlosis can be treated empirically with sequential therapeutic regimens without incurring great risks; and | 
| 3 | 
							The long delay before AST information is available (6–12 wk) precludes a practical impact on patient care. | 











