European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: The World Health Organization advised bedaquiline for the treatment of extensively drug-resistant (XDR), pre-XDR and multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB). Bedaquiline is now recommended for usage for at least six months throughout therapy, it is used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis when other treatment modalities cannot be used. This drug shows good result in clinically relevant patient associated with drug resistant tuberculosis. Objective: Present study was aim to analyseeffectiveness of bedaquiline treatment in patients with MDR, pre-XDR and XDR tuberculosis. We also aim to analyse the early culture conversion rate after starting bedaquiline treatment. Methods: Total 248 patients of which representing 160 patients with MDR and 88 patients with pre-XDR were included in the study. Sociodemographic data, outcome, HIV status, drug sensitivity, diagnosis and culture conversion rate were analysed. Results: There were 58.5% male and 41.5% female patients with mean age of 34.23 ± 15.42 years. Among total patients, 68.14% patients were cured whereas mortality observed in 21.4% patients. Total 46.4% patients exhibit resistance against isoniazid, 100% patients exhibit resistance against rifampicin and 43.5% patients exhibit resistance against fluoroquinolones.We found a significant linear declining trend in the positivity rate of sputum culture over a period of 24 months follow up which started declining from 3rd month & a significant drop after 8 months of treatment. Conclusion: Findings of present study are in consistent with the recommendations as per PMDT GUIDELINES 2021(Programmatic Management of Drug resistant Tuberculosis in India.)for the bedaquiline based drug resistant tuberculosis,which suggest a treatment of bedaquiline for6 months or longer showing the positive effect in sputum culture conversion & favourable effect on success rate as shown by pmdt guidelines.