Treatment outcomes of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) treated with bedaquiline under programmatic management of drug resistant tuberculosis at a tertiary care hospital in Punjab, India.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: MDR TB is a serious global concern which is hampering TB elimination goals badly. Standardized MDR TB regimen had high default rates, more side effects and poor treatment outcomes. Bedaquiline is a newer anti-tubercular drug which has made oral regimens possible for MDR TB. We aimed to study the outcomes of MDR TB patients treated with Bdq containing regimens. METHODS: 155 patients of MDR TB on Bdq containing regimen enrolled at GMC, Patiala under NTEP from 2017 to 2020 were enrolled retrospectively. RESULTS: Out of 155 patients enrolled, 82 (52.9 %) were cured, 31 (20 %) completed treatment, 18 (11.6 %) defaulted, 22 (14.2 %) died and 2 (0.12 %) failed treatment. CONCLUSION: Bdq is well tolerated with very less side effects and has better outcomes as compared to standard MDR regimens which were followed earlier.