Absence of Full Drug-Susceptibility Data for TB Patients Can Lead to Resistance Amplification: Study

Last Updated on April 19, 2024 by Robert C. Hoopes

A recent study conducted by HaystackAnalytics and Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College in Pune has uncovered concerning statistics about drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in India. The study, which involved whole genome sequencing of 600 clinical samples from TB patients, revealed that pre-extensively drug-resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) was present in a startling 50.83% of presumptive multi-drug resistant tuberculosis cases.

The research also found that multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) was present in 15.5% of cases, with similar proportions among men and women. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), a rare type of MDR-TB resistant to multiple drugs, was also identified in the study – posing significant challenges to TB treatment and control measures.

The study’s findings shed light on the urgent need to reevaluate the current approach to TB management, as drug resistance was observed even to common medications like rifampicin, isoniazid, and fluoroquinolones. Anirvan Chatterjee, CEO and co-founder of HaystackAnalytics, stressed the importance of reassessing TB management strategies in light of these concerning statistics.

This research underscores the critical importance of addressing drug-resistant TB strains in India, and the need for innovative approaches to combat this growing public health threat. As the study suggests, a reevaluation of traditional TB management practices is essential to effectively tackle the rise of drug-resistant strains and ensure the efficacy of TB treatment and control efforts.