Shortened Treatment Regimens for Drug Sensitive TB

Tuberculosis (TB) has remained a global health challenge despite the availability of effective anti-tubercular drugs and various treatment strategies. Apart from the complications related to TB disease per se, adverse effects of antitubercular therapy (ATT) also contribute to morbidity. In addition to the adverse effects, the long duration of the treatment regimen also reduces the patient’s acceptability of ATT. The available “short-course treatment regimens” are still relatively long, thereby adversely affecting treatment compliance. There is a need for effective, safe, short and intensive regimens for TB which can reduce the treatment cost and adverse effects, thereby improving its acceptance. With the emergence of new evidence, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently endorsed 4 mo short duration ATT regimen for non-severe, drug-sensitive cases of tuberculosis. Even in severe forms of disease like tubercular meningitis (TBM), trials are underway evaluating efficacy and safety of shorter regimens. Inclusion of fluroquinolones and rifapentine help shorten the regimens. These shortened regimens, however, need more close monitoring for adverse effects and may need to be converted to longer course if there is inadequate clinical response. Thus, shorter regimens for pediatric TB are likely to not only decrease the burden on patients and healthcare but also improve compliance and lower the side effects of the drugs due to prolonged exposure. This article reviews the current evidence and the guidelines pertaining to the shortened, intensive regimens for drug-sensitive tuberculosis.