A shorter all-oral bedaquiline-containing regimen of 9–12 months duration is recommended in eligible patients with confirmed multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) who have not been exposed to treatment with second-line TB medicines used in this regimen for more than 1 month, and in whom resistance to fluoroquinolones has been excluded.
Patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) should be treated using mainly ambulatory care rather than models of care based principally on hospitalization.
A package of treatment adherence interventions may be offered to patients on TB treatment
in conjunction with the selection of a suitable treatment administration option.
Health education and counselling on the disease and treatment adherence should
be provided to patients on tuberculosis (TB) treatment.
In patients with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) or multidrug-resistant TB
(MDR-TB), elective partial lung resection (lobectomy or wedge resection) may be used
alongside a recommended MDR-TB regimen.
Antiretroviral therapy is recommended for all patients with HIV and drug-resistant tuberculosis requiring second-line antituberculosis drugs, irrespective of CD4 cell count, as early as possible (within the first 8 weeks) following initiation of antituberculosis treatment.
In multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) patients on longer regimens, the performance of sputum culture in addition to sputum smear microscopy is recommended to monitor treatment response. It is desirable for sputum culture to be repeated at monthly intervals.
A treatment regimen lasting 6–9 months, composed of bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid (BPaL), may be used under operational research conditions in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients with TB that is resistant to fluoroquinolones, who have either had no previous exposure to bedaquiline and linezolid or have been exposed for no more than 2 weeks.
In MDR/RR-TB patients on longer regimens containing amikacin or streptomycin, an intensive
phase of 6–7 months is suggested for most patients; the duration may be modified according
to the patient’s response to therapy.
In patients with confirmed rifampicin-susceptible, isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis, it is not recommended to add streptomycin or other injectable agents to the treatment regimen.