Treatment outcomes, feasibility and acceptability of shorter regimens for patients with drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in Punjab
Study design
Mixed methods study
Context
Multidrug resistant and rifampicin resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) affects 400,000 people yearly worldwide and Pakistan has a significant burden. Updated recommendations from WHO and the latest evidence from clinical trials show that all oral, shorter regimens such as BPaL/BPaLM and endTB regimens have high rates of successful outcomes. However, challenges include emerging resistance to bedaquiline and the tailoring of treatments for pregnant women, children and those with the most resistant TB forms.
New regimens lack real-world performance data, particularly in populations such as children, pregnant women, and highly resistant TB cases. Knowledge gaps identified by WHO include the implementation feasibility and acceptability and interpreting bedaquiline susceptibility tests.
Our role
Coordination
Partners
- Ministry of Health of Pakistan
National and Provincial TB program
National Reference Laboratory
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium
Objectives
The study aims to document the DR-TB treatment outcomes of shorter regimens as well as to assess the feasibility and acceptability of current models of care, especially in populations such as children and pregnant women, while aiding resistance surveillance efforts.
