Daily Drug Regime for All TB Patients Starts from September in Maharashtra

A daily drug regimen for tuberculosis patients will start from September in Maharashtra, replacing the three-times-a-week treatment schedule.

After a discussion held by national and state officials, Deputy Director General of Central TB Division Dr Sunil Khaparde said, “The daily drug regime will be rolled out in five states now, including Maharashtra, from September.”

Scientists Identify Possible Cause for TB Drug Resistance
A new mechanism for pyrazinamide (PZA)-resistance a frontline tuberculosis (TB) drug has been discovered by scientists.

‘The government-funded daily drug regimen for tuberculosis patients provides drugs for HIV-TB, pediatric TB, and re-treatment cases. ’

Tweet it Now

Director of Indian Council of Medical Research Dr Soumya Swaminathan said, “We are beginning with these five states, the commitment is to the entire nation.” She added that the protocol of the daily drug treatment had been released and the ministry was actively taking up the process of operationalising it.

The daily regime for HIV-TB patients will also be started across the country in July.

Speaking about pediatric TB and the steps to reduce it, Dr Swaminathan said, “One thing that we have done for pediatric TB is scaling up molecular diagnostics like GeneXpert. Started as a four-city project, it has now expanded to 30 cities. In all the cities where GeneXpert has been placed by the government, HIV-TB, pediatric TB and re-treatment cases have been prioritized. We find that there has been a jump in the bacteriological diagnosis of pediatric TB, and we are now diagnosing MDR-TB in children.”

Manner in Which TB Drug Attacks Its Target Uncovered
A clue to understanding how the most important drug for tuberculosis works to attack dormant TB bacteria in order to shorten treatment has been found by researchers.

The rate of drug resistance in children is the same as in adults. Thus it is very important to diagnose and put children on an appropriate treatment path.

The drug formulation for MDR-TB is still an issue. Drug formulation for children under six years is still not there. “We are hoping that some company will come forward with a formulation,” said Swaminathan.

TB Drug Resistance Linked to Speedy Drug Metabolism
Multidrug resistant tuberculosis (TB) is more likely caused in patients by speedy drug metabolism rather than inconsistent doses, as is widely believed, scientists have revealed.

Maharashtra ranks first with the highest tuberculosis cases in the country. A total of 1.3 lakh fresh cases of tuberculosis were recorded in the State last year. About 28,000 cases were recorded in Mumbai. Of these, 5,500 were cases of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, with Mumbai’s share at a worrisome 3,600, said Dr. Sujata Saunik, principal secretary (health), Maharashtra government.

Source-Medindia

Promising TB Drug Cocktail Unveiled
An experimental drug cocktail that killed a record 99 percent of TB bacteria has been unveiled by researchers.