'Personalizing' shorter regimens: Need of the hour

The launch of injectable shorter regimens under Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (PMDT) guidelines 2017 under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) was a welcome step as it decreased the duration of treatment significantly in Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DRTB) patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of patients started on injectable shorter regimens from March 2018 to May, 2019.

Retrospective study which scrutinized medical records of 85 patients started on injectable shorter regimen was conducted. Necessary information on possible patient and disease related predicting factors like age, gender, weight, HIV status, presence of diabetes mellitus (DM), anemia, gap between diagnosis and initiation of treatment, duration of intensive phase (IP) and time of sputum conversion was retrieved, and analyzed for possible association with treatment outcomes.

56.5% had successful treatment outcomes. Age, gender, BMI, diabetic/anemic status and gap between diagnosis and initiation of treatment had no statistically significant relationship with the final outcomes. Duration of IP, sputum conversion and time of outcome during the course of illness emerged as significant factors in successful outcomes.

The injectable shorter regimens were suitable for a variety of population irrespective of demographic disparities. Patients need to be followed closely as microbiological parameters serve as early indicators of unsuccessful outcomes. These regimens can serve as an alternate choice in patients not tolerating the all oral shorter Bedaquiline containing shorter regimen. Similar such options with combinations of different drugs for individualizing treatment regimens is the need of the hour.