Soumya Shraddhya Paul, Amity University, Noida
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through the air from one person to another. TB typically affects the lungs, but it can also damage the brain, kidneys, or spine. TB is treatable and curable in the majority of instances; but, if not treated properly, persons with TB can die.
Whenever germs acquire resistance to the medications used to treat TB, drug-resistant TB may emerge. This implies that the medication is no longer effective against tuberculosis germs. Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR TB) is transmitted in the same manner as drug-susceptible TB is. Tuberculosis is a communicable disease that goes from one person to another through the air. The reason why drug resistance occurs is due to incomplete treatments, prescription of wrong treatments, effective drugs are not available; the drugs are of poor quality, etc. As of now two types of drug resistance are noticed in people i.e., extensively Drug-resistant TB (XDR TB) and Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR TB).
According to a presentation given at the virtual International AIDS Society (IAS) 2021 conference, positive outcomes from ZeNix, a phase 3 trial aimed at improving a key treatment strategy for highly drug-resistant tuberculosis, could lead to changes in TB treatment guidelines and have real benefits for people living with the disease.
Brief about the Study:
In South Africa, Russia, Georgia, and Moldova, 181 individuals with extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis were enrolled in the ZeNix trial. They were given daily bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid (a combination regimen known as BPaL) for six months, commencing at 1,200 mg for six or two months or 600 mg for six or two months. This project showed relapse-free cure rates in all the studies.
Furthermore, those who took linezolid at lower dosages and/or for shorter periods of time were less likely to develop peripheral neuropathy and myelosuppression side effects. They were also less likely to need linezolid dosage adjustments, according to the researchers.
Results:
These findings, according to the researchers, corroborate the BPaL regimen’s high relapse-free cure rate in highly drug-resistant TB and show that lower dosages and/or shorter periods of linezolid (1,200 mg) for six months have equal efficacy and safety.
Conclusion:
Through the study in discussion, it was observed that there is a need for improved treatment for the drug resistance TB. The IAS 2021 Co-Chair Hendrik Streeck, MD, commented on the findings saying that there is an urgent need for new preventive and treatment options for all TB, but notably for extremely drug-resistant TB. We can thus observe how important it is for us to find alternate methods to fight TB.
Also read: Haploflow: Tracing the disease back to its Origin
References:
- Good Cure Rates Seen From Improved Strategy for Highly Resistant TB Treatment: https://www.idse.net/Bacterial-Infections/Article/07-21/Good-Cure-Rates-Seen-From-Improved-Strategy-for-Highly-Resistant-TB-Treatment/64137
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Author’s info:
Soumya Shraddhya Paul is an undergrad biotechnology student who worked in building 3D prosthetics in Base Hospital Delhi Cantt, and holds a key interest in nutraceuticals and enzymology.
Publications:
- https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/understanding-b-cell-genomics-to-fight-against-covid-19/
- https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/the-current-ebola-epidemic-comes-to-an-end/
- https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/epigenetic-changes-can-cause-permanent-changes-to-offsprings/
- https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/crispr-act-3-0-a-revolution-in-plant-gene-technology/
Social Media Info: www.linkedin.com/in/soumya-shraddhya-paul-858229203
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