The evidence review focused on the shorter regimen where the injectable agent was replaced by bedaquiline²⁶ (used for 6 months), in combination with levofloxacin/moxifloxacin, ethionamide, ethambutol, isoniazid (high-dose), pyrazinamide and clofazimine for 4 months (with the possibility of extending to 6 months if the patient remains sputum smear positive at the end of 4 months); followed by 5 months of treatment with levofloxacin/moxifloxacin, clofazimine, ethambutol and pyrazinamide.
After taking into account patient preference and clinical judgement, this regimen can be a preferred option for patients in whom all of the following apply: confirmed MDR/RR-TB (with at least confirmed resistance to rifampicin), with resistance to fluoroquinolones ruled out, exposure to previous treatment with second-line medicines for no more than 1 month, no extensive TB disease and no severe extrapulmonary TB (see Definitions).
The evidence reviewed supports the use of this regimen in patient subgroups such as people living with HIV (PLHIV) (see Section 2.4).
Implementation of this regimen requires access to rapid DST against fluoroquinolones.