A new era for treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Issue 4 (4th October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gandhi, Neel R.; Brust, James C.M.; Shah, N. Sarita
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 52:Issue 4(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-10-04
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01350-2018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

For three decades, drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) has posed grave challenges to patients, communities and global TB control efforts. Treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB ( i.e. TB resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR)-TB ( i.e. MDR-TB with additional resistance to fluoroquinolones and second-line injectable TB drugs) has relied on medications that are less potent and more toxic than first-line TB therapy. Consequently, drug-resistant TB treatment takes 2 years to complete and has been associated with frequent and severe side-effects. Treatment outcomes remain abysmal despite this prolonged therapy, with only 54% of MDR-TB patients and 30% of XDR-TB patients achieving cure [1]. When considering the full cascade of individuals estimated to have drug-resistant TB, only 12% of MDR-TB and 6.8% of XDR-TB patients are cured (figure 1) Adoption of new treatment regimens for drug-resistant TB has been slowed amid concerns regarding their efficacy and safety. Numerous studies worldwide now provide substantial evidence to support widespread implementation of these new drugs and regimens. http://ow.ly/FX8I30lpANX