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Management of DR-TB ADR: QT Prolongation

QT prolongation is a condition in which repolarization of the heart after a heartbeat is affected. 

 

It results in an increased risk of an irregular heartbeat which can result in shortness of breath or chest pain, fainting, seizures or cardiac arrest. 

 

If patients experience such signs or symptoms, health workers need to refer such patients to the nearest health facility where Electrocardiogram (ECG) can be done and further management initiated.

 

Details of Replacement Sequence of Drugs in Longer Oral M/XDR-TB Regimen

Replacement of component(s) drug(s) is required in conditions like adverse drug reaction, poor tolerance, contraindication and resistance detected on baseline Liquid Culture (LC) Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST). 

 

The replacement sequence of drugs is prepared according to their efficacy, no demonstrable resistance, prior use, side-effect profile and background resistance to replacement drug in the country.

Use of M/XDR-TB Regimen in Patients with Psychiatric Illness

There is a high baseline incidence of depression and anxiety in patients with Multidrug-resistant (MDR)/ Extensively Drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) patients. Special precautions need to be taken for M/XDR-TB treatment-initiated patients suffering from pre-existing psychiatric illnesses.

 

Drugs Associated with Psychosis: Cycloserine (Cs), High-dose Isoniazid (Hh), Fluoroquinolone (FQ) and Ethionamide (Eto) 

 

Use of M/XDR-TB Regimen in Patients with Seizure Disorders

The treating physician should elicit the history of past or present seizure disorders in all Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) patients.​

 

If the seizures are not under control, initiation or adjustment of anti-seizure medications will be needed before the start of DR-TB treatment. ​In addition, if other underlying conditions or causes for seizures exist, they should be corrected.​

 

DR-TB Treatment in Pregnancy: Recommendation for the Use of Contraception​

All women of childbearing age who are awaiting results of the Culture and Drug Susceptibility Test (C&DST), as well as those receiving Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) treatment, should be advised and counselled intensively to use birth control measures because of the potential risk to both the mother and the foetus.​

Follow-up Evaluation of Patients on Shorter Oral Bedaquiline-containing MDR/RR-TB Regimen

Apart from clinical evaluation, the patients need to be closely assessed by various laboratory parameters to monitor the improvement on treatment, drug-induced adverse events or co-morbidities to enable timely interventions to address these and improve the probability of treatment success, survival and quality of life.

 

Table: Laboratory evaluations and follow-up schedule for patients on shorter oral Bdq containing Multidrug-resistant (MDR)/ Rifampicin-resistant (RR) TB regimen; Source: Guidelines for PMDT in India 2021, p54.

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