Nationwide Coverage of Molecular Drug Susceptibility Testing in South Korea Reveals Room for Improvement

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in Suwon, South Korea, has shed light on the coverage of molecular drug susceptibility testing (mDST) among patients with pulmonary multidrug/resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) in the country. The study, which analyzed data from 2015 to 2021, found that while mDST coverage increased annually, approximately 28.9% of patients did not undergo testing. The researchers emphasized the need for further efforts to achieve universal implementation of mDST, particularly for the Xpert MTB/RIF assay.

Key Takeaways:

  • A retrospective cohort study conducted in South Korea found that 28.9% of 4,637 patients with pulmonary MDR/RR-TB did not undergo molecular drug susceptibility testing (mDST) between 2015 and 2021.
  • The mDST coverage increased annually, from 49.1% in 2015 to 96.9% in 2021.
  • The researchers identified a need for further efforts to achieve nationwide and universal implementation of mDST, particularly for the Xpert MTB/RIF assay.
  • The study was funded by Patient-centered Clinical Research Coordinating Center and Research Program Funded By Korea Disease Control And Prevention Agency.
  • The research was conducted by Seung Won Lee and his team at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine.

Statistics:

  • 4637 patients with pulmonary MDR/RR-TB were included in the analysis.
  • 1342 patients (28.9%) did not undergo mDST.
  • 3295 patients (71.1%) underwent mDST.
  • mDST coverage increased from 49.1% in 2015 to 96.9% in 2021.
  • 96.9% of patients underwent Xpert MTB/RIF assay or line probe assay (LPA) for isoniazid and rifampicin (first-line LPA) in 2021.

Sources:

  • Nationwide coverage of molecular drug susceptibility testing in patients with pulmonary multidrug/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in South Korea: a retrospective cohort study (2015-2021). BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 2025,12(1).
  • Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine Researchers Add New Data to Research in Tuberculosis [Nationwide coverage of molecular drug susceptibility testing in patients with pulmonary multidrug/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in South Korea: ...]. TB & Outbreaks Week. November 4, 2025; p 2037.