A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF TREATMENT OUTCOME IN MULTI DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS ON BEDAQUILINE IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE OF JHARKHAND

Abstract

Introduction- Tuberculosis is a significant health challenge for India due to its high incidence and mortality among the cases. India has committed to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025 and taken many steps towards achieving the goal. However, the increase in Multi Drug-resistant Tuberculosis(MDR-TB) cases is cause for growing concern. The introduction of Bedaquiline in National Tuberculosis Elimination Program(NTEP) has helped to shorten the treatment regimen for Drug-resistant cases. Hence in this context the study was under taken to analyse the treatment outcome of patients on bedaquiline based multiple drug regimen and its effectiveness.

Materials and Methods- MDR-TB patients enrolled for Bedaquiline based regimen from 2018 to 2021 at a DR-TB Centre in a tertiary care health centre were included in the study. A retrospective analysis of treatment outcome was done using the data available in NIKSHAY portal. Cured or treatment completed were grouped as favourable outcome, whereas the dead, lost to follow-up, not evaluated or treatment regimen changed were considered to be unfavourable outcome.

Result- A total of 156 patients were initiated on Bedaquiline based regimen between 2018 and 2021.Altogether 95 (60.9%) patients had favourable outcome. None of the examined variable (age, gender and year of treatment) was found to have statistically significant association with outcome (p<0.05).

Conclusion- The study highlights the importance of treating MDR-TB patients with bedaquiline based regimen for favourable outcome. Bedaquiline is well tolerated drug and is relatively effective for treatment of MDR-TB patients.