Study: The importance of full drug-susceptibility data for TB patients in preventing resistance – My MBA Career

Last Updated on April 18, 2024 by Robert C. Hoopes

A recent study conducted by an IIT Mumbai start-up in collaboration with Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Pune has shed light on the prevalence of pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB) in India. According to the study, pre-XDR-TB was identified in a staggering 50.83% of presumptive multi-drug resistant tuberculosis cases, while multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) was found in 15.5%.

HaystackAnalytics, the IIT Mumbai start-up, partnered with Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College to analyze the drug-resistance profile of TB through whole genome sequencing of 600 clinical samples from TB patients in India. These samples were collected from patients with difficult-to-treat cases, relapse, and treatment failure.

The study also revealed the presence of extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) in some cases. XDR-TB, a rare type of MDR-TB resistant to isoniazid, rifampicin, and other drugs, poses significant challenges in treatment and management.

India reported over 1.35 lakh cases of multi-drug resistant TB in 2020, indicating the pressing need for more effective management strategies. The study noted resistance to rifampicin, isoniazid, and fluoroquinolones, underscoring the complexity of treating drug-resistant TB.

Anirvan Chatterjee, CEO and co-founder of HaystackAnalytics, emphasized the importance of adopting a more individualized approach to TB management based on the study’s findings. With the rise of drug-resistant TB cases in India, it is crucial to address these challenges and develop targeted interventions to combat this public health threat.