By Asmau Ahmad
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Programme has announced updated guidance for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis.
According to WHO, the updates contain shorter novel six-month all-oral regimens for the treatment of multidrug- and rifampicin-resistant TB, with or without additional resistance to fluoroquinolones (pre-XDR-TB), also, a substitute nine-month all-oral regimen for the treatment of multidrug- and rifampicin-resistant TB.
WHO said, “All treatment should be delivered under WHO-recommended standards, including patient-centred care and support, informed consent where necessary, principles of good clinical practice, active drug safety monitoring and management, and regular monitoring of patients and drug resistance to assess regimen effectiveness.”
The Director of WHO’s Global TB Programme, Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, said “We now have more and much better treatment options for people with drug-resistant TB thanks to research generating new evidence.
“This is major progress compared to what was available even a few years ago and will be of great benefit for people struggling with TB and drug-resistant TB, resulting in better outcomes, saving lives, and reducing suffering.
“We now need all hands-on deck to enable the rapid uptake of these guidelines, and to enable access to the new treatment options for those in need.”
The new guidance is said to have been released ahead of the updated WHO consolidated guidelines expected later in 2022.
The new guidance, WHO said, is to notify national TB programmes and other stakeholders of vital changes in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis, as well as to give room for quick transition and preparation at the country level.
