Proficiency testing of first- and second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs in Italy

The emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is an increasing threat to public health in industrialised countries; thus, it is important to supervise mycobacteriology laboratories by performing periodic proficiency of anti-TB drug susceptibility testing (DST). In 1994, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases developed a global project of anti-TB drug resistance surveillance to assist countries via a network of supranational reference laboratories (SRLs). Proficiency test (PT) results of first-line anti-TB drugs have been reported for the SRL network and for some individual countries.