Constituents of Monthly Patient-wise Boxes [PWB] for Shorter Oral Bedaquiline-containing MDR/RR-TB Regimen

The patient on shorter oral Bedaquiline-containing multi-drug resistant (MDR)/rifampicin resistant TB (RR-TB) regimen shall be put on Type A and Type B box when initiated on treatment on a monthly patient wise box (PWB). Bedaquiline (Bdq) needs to be issued separately and stopped after 6 months. The patient should be provided with only Type A boxes when started on continuation phase (CP).​

DR-TB Services and Functions of Stakeholders

Each of the stakeholder plays important role in DR-TB service delivery and has specific responsibility which is being monitored. 

 

The flow diagram below depicts the processes involved in the delivery of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) services and specific functions of various stakeholders.

 

Figure 1: Cascade of DR-TB services and functions of various stakeholders
Source: Guidelines for PMDT in India, 2021, p.8

 

Preparation of Patient-wise Boxes [PWB] for DR-TB Patients

Under the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) patients receive standardized DR-TB treatment boxes (called Patient-wise Boxes - PWB) for each month. These boxes are either with the health facility nearest to DR-TB patients (DOT centre) or with the treatment supporter who is involved in the care of DR-TB patients. 

 

Steps involved in the preparation of second-line drug boxes for DR-TB patients:

 

Screening among Household Contacts of DR-TB Patients

The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) follows an integrated algorithm for screening and ruling out active Tuberculosis (TB) among Household Contacts (HHCs) of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients.

 

Figure: Integrated Algorithm for Screening and Ruling out Active TB among HHCs of DR-TB Patients; Source: Guidelines for PMDT in India, 2021, p118.

 

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