When assessing the evidence, the Guideline Development Group noted that treatment of patients needs to be guided by the use of DST, something that is important for field practitioners and implementers when putting these recommendations into practice. As currently recommended by WHO, universal access30 to DST for M. tuberculosis should be a standard practice in all settings. DR-TB cases treated with first-line regimens are likely to continue to be infectious and propagate ongoing transmission. National TB programmes must also consider the implementation of other interventions that facilitate treatment adherence, including strengthening of social protection systems for preventing financial hardship; providing nutritional support, and patient and family health education; and implementing decentralized models of care. Instituting this intervention without sufficient support measures may deter patients from continuing treatment. Resources Overall, health care infrastructure and available resources will determine access to rapid diagnostics, including DST and, most crucially, sustainable access to anti-TB medication. Subgroup considerations Access to effective TB treatment is clearly essential for TB patients to be cured; however, benefits also accrue to the larger community and population in reducing the risk of transmission. 30 WHO defines universal access to DST as rapid DST for at least rifampicin, and further DST for at least fluoroquinolones and secondline injectable agents in all TB patients with rifampicin resistance