DR-TB Coordinator

Tuberculosis(TB) is curable if patients are treated with effective, uninterrupted anti-tuberculous treatment. Treatment adherence is critical for curing individual patients, controlling the spread of infection in the community, and minimizing the development of drug resistance.

Adherence to treatment means that a patient follows the recommended course of treatment by taking all the prescribed medications for the entire length of time, as necessary. In other words, “right dose for the right duration”.

For TB infection, there are two recommended tests which can be used to identify such patients.

Tuberculin Skin Test (TST)

The skin test is done by injecting a small amount (0.5 ml) of TB antigens into the top layer of skin on your inner forearm. If one has ever been exposed to TB bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), there will be a reaction indicated by the development of a firm red bump (induration) >= 10 mm at the site within 2 days.

After getting diagnosed with Drug-Resistant TB(DR-TB), the patient is referred to District DRTB Centre(DDR-TBC) for initiation of treatment. Few clinically complicated cases are referred to the Nodal DRTB Centre(NDR TBC).

Depending upon type of drug resistance, there are four broad DRTB Treatment regimen.

1. H Mono/Poly Treatment Regimen(6-9 months)
2. Shorter oral Bedaquiline containing MDR/RR-TB regimen(9-11 months)
3. Shorter injectable containing regimen(9-11 months)
4. Longer oral M/XDR-TB regimen(18-20 months)

Drugs administered for DRTB Regimen:

Common Adverse events to second line treatment are as below

Figure: Adverse Drug Reaction to Second line drugs

Adverse events should be identified, monitored and be referred to

Community Health Volunteers(CHVs) have to refer the presumptive cases identified based on the r symptom screening to the nearest NTEP health facility for further investigation. Once Diagnosed with TB, the TB patients are initiated on the first-line TB treatment. Patients are also offered NAAT within a maximum of 15 days to rule out any drug resistance. If no drug resistance is detected, then the patient continues on the first-line TB treatment. TB patients are then clinically evaluated every month to check the progress of TB treatment. 

1. Counsel and reassure the patient as the common occurring adverse effects usually resolve with time.
2. Advise the patient to take all the drugs together.
3. Advise patient to take light meal (biscuits, bread, rice etc.) before taking drugs.
4. Inform patients that they may take drugs embedded in banana or at the bedtime to reduce their associated side effects.
5. Encourage patients to keep themselves hydrated by increasing fluid intake.

Adverse Drug Reactions(ADR) are classified into serious and non-serious ADR depending upon the intensity of symptoms experienced by the patient. Below is the brief overview

When a TB patient consumes all the doses under the prescribed regimen, then Treatment Outcome is declared for a Patient.