1. PRINCIPLE OF MDR TB
MANAGEMENT
Dr Kaliprasanna Chatterjee
MD PGT 3rd year,
Department of Pulmonary Medicine,
Burdwan Medical College and Hospital
2. GROUPING OF ANTI-TB DRUGS
GROUPING DRUGS
Group 1: First-line oral anti-TB agents Isoniazid (H);
Rifampicin (R);
Ethambutol (E);
Pyrazinamide (Z)
Group 2: Injectable anti-TB agents Streptomycin (S); Kanamycin (Km);
Amikacin (Am);
Capreomycin (Cm); Viomycin (Vm).
Group 3: Fluoroquinolones Ciprofloxacin (Cfx); Ofloxacin (Ofx); Levofloxacin (Lvx);
Moxifloxacin (Mfx); Gatifloxacin (Gfx)
Group 4: Oral second-line anti-TB agents Ethionamide (Eto); Prothionamide (Pto);
Cycloserine (Cs);Terizadone (Trd);
para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS)
Group 5: Agents with unclear efficacy (not
recommended by WHO for routine use in
MDR-TB patients)
Clofazimine (Cfz); Linezolid (Lzd); Amoxicillin/Clavulanate
(Amx/Clv);
thioacetazone (Thz); imipenem/cilastatin (Ipm/Cln);
high-dose isoniazid (high-dose H); Clarithromycin (Clr)
3. MAGNITITUDE OF PROBLEM
• Drug-resistant TB poses a major threat to control of TB worldwide.
• Among notified pulmonary TB patients in 2014, an estimated 300 000 (range: 220 000–
370 000) had MDR-TB.
• Globally in 2014, 123 000 patients with MDR -TB or rifampicin resistant tuberculosis
(RR-TB) were notified.
• Globally, 3.3% of new cases (95% CI: 2.2–4.4%) and 20% of previously treated cases (95%CI:
14–27%) have MDR-TB.
• In India (2014), an estimated 2.2% of new cases (95% CI: 1.9–2.6%) and 15% of previously
treated cases (95%CI: 11–19%) have MDR-TB.
4. MAGNITITUDE OF PROBLEM
• Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) has been reported by 105 countries.
• On average, an estimated 9.7% of people with MDR-TB have XDR-TB (95% CI: 7.4–
12%).
• Sub-national drug resistance surveys (2005-09) showed 4-7% XDR & 21-24% Ofx
resistance in MDR isolates.
5. TYPES OF DRUG RESISTANT
Antibiotic Resistant - “ Resistance is defined as a decrease in sensitivity of
sufficient degree to be reasonably certain that the strain concerned is different
from a sample of wild strains of human type that have never come into contact
with the drug. ”
Primary (initial) resistance - When drug resistance is demonstrated in a
patient who has never received anti-TB treatment previously, it is termed primary
(Initial) resistance, i.e. TB patient’s initial M.TB population resistant to drugs
Secondary (Acquired) resistance is that which occurs as a result of specific
previous treatment, i.e. Drug-resistant M. TB in initial population, selected by
inappropriate drug use (inadequate treatment or non-adherence).
6. TYPES OF DRUG RESISTANT
Mono resistance TB - Resistant in vitro to one first line anti-TB drug.
Poly drug resistance TB - Resistance to INH or RIF (not both) with resistance to
one or more other 1st line drugs
Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) is defined as resistance to isoniazid
and Rifampicin (a laboratory diagnosis).
Extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB) is MDR + resistance to any fluoroquinolone
+ resistance to at least one 2nd-line injectable drug (amikacin, kanamycin, or
capreomycin)
Total Drug Resistance TB ( TDR) Resitance to all first-line anti-TB drugs (FLD) and
second-line anti-TB drugs (SLD) that were testedstance to all first-line anti-TB drugs
(FLD) and second-line anti-TB drugs (SLD) that were tested.
9. Organisms in
Pansusceptible
new case
Development
(creation)
Transmission (spread)
Development and Spread of Drug Resistance
INH,SM:10-5-6
RIF:10-6-7
EMB:10-4-5
New cases
with Primary
drug resistance
Drug resistant
mutants
Treatment failure
with Acquired
drug resistance
Programmatic Errors
Mismanagement Delay in diagnosis and
treatment
10. BASIC CONCEPT IN TB RESISTANCE
When all live species reach a certain number of divisions (in order to perpetuate the specie),
they undergo genomic mutations at random, which gives rise to organisms with certain
altered functions
Ever since M. tuberculosis has attacked humans, way back in time, it has always presented
multiple genomic mutations in its continuous divisions
Some of these mutations affect the genes in which anti-tuberculous drugs work
This means that these antibiotics cannot work against M. tuberculosis, and therefore
phenotypically, they show resistance to them.
The mutation rate, rather than the mutation frequency, is the most reliable measure, as it
records the risk of mutation per cell division rather than the proportion of mutant cells.
The rate at which resistance emerges, being highest for ethambutol and lowest for
rifampicin & quinolones.
11. INTRINSIC DRUG RESISTANCE IN TB
Unusual structure of its mycolic acid-containing cell wall.
low permeability for many antibiotics.
Intrinsic resistance is important .
Limits the number of drugs available for treatment & favors the emergence of
strains with a high level of drug resistance
Recently, the role of efflux mechanisms has also been recognized as an important
factor in the natural resistance against antibiotics such as Tetracycline,
fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides, among others.
Fortunately, of the 4 mechanisms through which antimicrobial resistance appears
(mutation, transduction, transformation and conjugation), M. TB only uses
mutations
12.
13. DRUG RESISTANCE : MOLECULAR BASIS
• ISONIAZID-
Point mutations in katG are more commonly observed.
Results in a significant reduction in catalase & peroxidase activity & causes high-
level INH resistance.
Interestingly, the mutation in katG occurs more frequently in MDR than in isoniazid
mono resistant strains.
Mutations in inhA result in reduced affinity of the enzyme for NADH without
affecting its enoyl reductase activity and Usually confer low-level resistance.
Mutations in inhA also cause resistance to the structurally related second-line drug
ethionamide.
14. DRUG RESISTANCE : MOLECULAR BASIS
ndh mutations reduce the activity of NADH dehydrogenase and produce resistance
to isoniazid and ethionamide.
ahpC codes for an alkyl hydroperoxidase reductase that is implicated in resistance
to reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen intermediates.
Studies have found that an increase in the expression of ahpc seems to be more a
compensatory mutation for the loss of catalase/peroxidase activity rather than the
basis for isoniazid resistance.
Studies have found that mutations in katG, inhA and ahpC were most strongly
associated with INH resistance
15. DRUG RESISTANCE : MOLECULAR BASIS
• RIFAMPICIN-
The great majority of clinical isolates shows mutations in the gene rpoB that
encodes the b-subunit of RNA polymerase.
Mutations in a ‘hot-spot’ region of 81 bp of rpoB have been found in about 96% of
rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates.
This region, spanning codons 507–533, is also known as the rifampicin resistance-
determining region (RRDR).
Cross-resistance between rifampicin and other rifamycins do exist
An important finding is that almost all rifampicin-resistant strains also show
resistance to other drugs, particularly to isoniazid.
For this reason, rifampicin resistance detection has been proposed as a surrogate
molecular marker for MDR.
16. DRUG RESISTANCE : MOLECULAR BASIS
• PYRAZINAMIDE-
Mutations in pncA is the main mechanism
Some PZA-resistant strains do not show mutations in pncA or its promoter
region.
In this case, it has been postulated that resistance could be due to
mutations in an unknown pncA regulatory gene
17. DRUG RESISTANCE : MOLECULAR BASIS
• STREPTOMYCIN-
As it was used as mono-therapy, resistance to emerged quite rapidly.
Due to mutations in rrs or rpsL, which produce alterations in the STM binding site.
The majority of point mutations resulting in STM resistance occur in rpsL, with the
most common mutation being K43R.
Recently it has been shown that mutations in gidB, which encodes a conserved 7-
methylguanosine methyltransferase specific for the 16S rRNA, can confer a low
level of streptomycin resistance.
18. DRUG RESISTANCE : MOLECULAR BASIS
• ETHAMBUTOL-
Close to 50% strains had mutations in codon 306 of embB.
It has been postulated that mutations in embB306 may be related to variable
degrees of ethambutol resistance but not sufficient for high-level ethambutol
resistance.
There is an important percentage that don’t have mutations in embB, suggesting
undiscovered mechanism for ethambutol resistance.
19. DRUG RESISTANCE : MOLECULAR BASIS
• FLUOROQUINOLONES-
Initial studies showed amino acid substitutions in the putative fluoroquinolone
binding region in gyrA or gyrB.
Quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of gyrA and gyrB and resistance
to fluoroquinolones has been confirmed now in multiple studies.
Several studies have already shown the presumptive participation of efflux
mechanisms in resistance to fluoroquinolones.
20. DRUG RESISTANCE : MOLECULAR BASIS
• AMINOGYCOSIDES AND CYCLIC PEPTIDE –
The most common molecular mechanism of drug resistance has been associated
with an A1401G mutation in the rrs gene coding for 16S rRNA.
This mutation occurs more frequently in strains with high-level resistance to
kanamycin and amikacin.
Mutations in the gene tlyA have been implicated in resistance to capreomycin and
viomycin.
This gene codes an rRNA methyltransferase specific for 2′-O-methylation of ribose
in rRNA.
Cross-resistance between kanamycin and amikacin or kanamycin, capreomycin and
viomycin to variable degrees have been reported.
22. MDR SUSPECT CRITERIA
Criteria A – Criteria B- Criteria C –
All failures of new TB cases
Smear +ve previously
treated cases who remain
smear +ve at 4th month
onwards
All pulmonary TB cases who
are contacts of known MDR TB
case
In addition to Criteria A:
All smear +ve previously
treated pulmonary TB cases at
diagnosis
Any smear +ve follow up
result in new or previously
treated cases
In addition to Criteria B
All smear -ve previously
treated pulmonary TB cases at
diagnosis.
HIV TB co-infected cases at
diagnosis.
23. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
Phenotypic DST (conventional DST):. Phenotypic testing determines if an isolate is
resistant to an anti-TB drug by evaluating growth (or metabolic activity) in the
presence of the drug.
Genotypic DST (molecular DST): Genotypic testing detects mutations in the TB
genome associated with specific drug resistance. (Note: genotypic testing is also
used to identify M.tuberculosis by detecting the presence of TB-specific
mycobacterial DNA).
Direct testing: Direct testing refers to testing directly from a clinical sample (most
commonly a sputum specimen). In direct DST, processed clinical samples are
directly inoculated onto media with and without drugs, or processed for molecular
testing.
Indirect testing: Indirect testing refers to testing performed on cultured isolates of
M.tuberculosis .
24. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
Presently, 3 technologies are available for
diagnosis of MDR TB
(1)the conventional solid egg-based
Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) media,
(2) the liquid culture (MGIT), and
(3) the rapid molecular assays such as Line
Probe Assay (LPA) and similar Nucleic Acid
Amplification Tests likeXpert MTB/Rif.
Phenotypic DST is available for more drugs,
and is considered very reliable for isoniazid
(H), rifampicin (R), and streptomycin (S),
and somewhat less reliable for other drugs
such as ethambutol (E).
Molecular/genotypic DST is highly reliable
for rifampicin, but has limited sensitivity
fordetection of isoniazid resistance.
The turnaround time for C-DST results by
Solid LJ media is around 84 days, by Liquid
Culture(MGIT) is around 42 days, by LPA is
around 72 hours and by CB-NAAT is around
2 hours
30. PRETREATMENT EVALUATION
1. Detailed history (including screening for mental illness, drug/alcohol abuse etc.)
2. Weight
3. Height
4. Complete Blood Count with platelets count
5. Blood sugar to screen for Diabetes Mellitus
6. Liver Function Tests
7. Blood Urea and S. Creatinine to assess the Kidney function
8. TSH levels to assess the thyroid function
9. Urine examination – Routine and Microscopic
10. Pregnancy test (for all women in the child bearing age group)
11. Chest X-Ray
All MDR-TB cases will be offered referral for HIV counseling and testing at the nearest centre if
the HIV status is not known or the HIV test is found negative with results more than 6 months
old.
TSH levels alone are usually sufficient to assess the thyroid function of the patient.
Patients should receive counselling on 1) the nature and duration of treatment, 2) need for regular
treatment, 3) possible side effects of these drugs and 4) the consequences of irregular treatment
or pre-mature cessation of treatment.
Female patients should receive special counselling on family planning.
31. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT
The intensive phase of MDR-TB treatment should consist of at least four second-line anti-TB
drugs that are likely to be effective (including an injectable anti-TB drug), as well as
pyrazinamide.
MDR regimens should include at least pyrazinamide, a fluoroquinolone, an injectable anti-TB
drug, ethionamide (or prothionamide) and either cycloserine or PAS (paraaminosalycylic
acid) if cycloserine cannot be used.
A fluoroquinolone should be used .A later-generation fluoroquinolone rather than an earlier-
generation fluoroquinolone should be used.
In the treatment of patients with MDR-TB, ethionamide (or prothionamide) should be used.
In the treatment of patients with MDR-TB, an intensive phase of eight months is suggested
for most patients, and the duration may be modified according to the patient’s response to
therapy.
The total length of treatment is expected to be at least 20 months in most patients
notpreviously treated for MDR-TB.
34. RNTCP Regimen for MDR TB
• This regimen comprises of 6 drugs - Kanamycin, Levofloxacin, Ethionamide,
Pyrazinamide,Ethambutol and Cycloserine during 6-9 months of the Intensive Phase and 4
drugs- Levofloxacin, Ethionamide, Ethambutol and Cycloserine during the 18 months of the
Continuation Phase.
• 6 (9) Km Lvx Eto Cs Z E / 18 Lvx Eto Cs E .
• SPECIAL SITUATION:
1) In case of intolerance to Kanamycin, then Capreomycin (or PAS if injectable agent not
feasible) is the available substitute drug.
2) In case of intolerance leading to discontinuation of other oral second-line drug,
paminosalicylic acid (PAS) is the available substitute drug.
3) Baseline Kanamycin mono - resistance should lead to substitution of Kanamycin with
Capreomycin.
4) Baseline Ofloxacin mono - resistance should lead to substitution of Levofloxacin with the
combination of Moxifloxacin and PAS.
5) Baseline Ofloxacin and Kanamycin resistance (i.e. XDR TB) should lead to declaration of
outcome, referral to DR-TB Centre for pre-treatment evaluation for Regimen for XDR TB.
37. ALGORITHM FOR MANAGEMENT OF MDR PATIENTS WHO DEFAULT
AND RETURN FOR TREATMENT WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF DISCONTINUING
REGIMEN FOR MDR TB
38. ALGORITHM FOR MANAGEMENT OF MDR PATIENTS WHO DEFAULT
AND RETURN FOR TREATMENT AFTER 6 MONTHS OF DISCONTINUING
REGIMEN FOR MDR TB
39. FOLLOW UP SMEAR AND CULTURE EXAMINATION
DURING TREATMENT
The most important objective evidence of response to M/XDR treatment is the conversion of
sputum culture to negative.
Patients will be considered smear converted after having two consecutive negative smears
taken at least one month apart.
Patients will be considered culture converted after having two consecutive negative
cultures taken at least one month apart.
Smear conversion is less reliable than culture conversion, which reflects viability of tubercle
bacilli and is a more accurate reflection of response to treatment.
For follow up examination the required number of sputum specimens will be collected and
examined by smear and culture at least 30 days apart from the 3rd to 7th month of
treatment(i.e. at the end of the months 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) and at 3-monthly intervals from the
9th month onwards till the completion of treatment (i.e. at the end of the months 9, 12, 15,
18, 21 and 24).
40. M/XDR TB TREATMENT OUTCOME
Cure: A patient who has completed treatment and has been consistently culture negative
(with at least 5 consecutive negative results in the last 12 to 15 months). If one follow-up
positive culture is reported during the last three quarters, patient will still be considered
cured provided this positive culture is followed by at least 3 consecutive negative cultures,
taken at least 30 days apart, provided that there is clinical evidence of improvement.
Treatment completed: A patient who has completed treatment according to guidelines but
does not meet the definition for cure or treatment failure due to lack of bacteriological
results.
Treatment failure: Treatment will be considered to have failed if two or more of the five
cultures recorded in the final 12-15 months are positive, or if any of the final three cultures
are positive.
Treatment default: A patient whose treatment was interrupted for two or more
consecutive months for any reasons.
44. NEWER DRUGS FOR MDR-TB PREVENTION
STRATEGIES : BEDAQUILINE
• Oral diarylquinoline
• Target: ATP synthase
– Activity specific to mycobacteria
• Bactericidal activity
comparable to RIF-INH-PZA
in mice
• Sterilizing activity comparable
to rifampin in mice
• Synergy with PZA
• No cross-resistance with other
antimycobacterial drugs (INH, RIF, EMB,
PZA, streptomycin, amikacin, or
moxifloxacin)
45. NEWER DRUGS FOR MDR-TB PREVENTION
STRATEGIES : BEDAQUILINE
Approved by FDA in 2012 as part of combination therapy in adults with pulmonary MDR-TB
Should be used only when an effective treatment regimen cannot otherwise be
provided.
Recommended dose: 400 mg PO OD for 2 wks, then 200 mg PO TIW, for a total duration of
24 wks
First drug with novel mechanism approved by FDA for TB since 1971.
BDQ may be added to a WHO-recommended regimen in adult MDR-TB patients under
following conditions:
1) When an effective treatment regimen containing 4 second-line drugs in addition to PZA,
according to WHO recommendations, cannot be designed
2) When there is documented resistance to any fluoroquinolone in addition to MDR
3) Recommended for adults older than 18 yrs of age under carefully monitored conditions
46. NEWER DRUGS FOR MDR-TB PREVENTION
STRATEGIES : BEDAQUILINE
All patients should be monitored wkly for adverse effects.
EKGs should be monitored at baseline and at least 2, 12, and 24 wks after starting treatment.
Serum potassium, calcium, and magnesium should be measured at baseline and whenever
clinically indicated, especially if QT interval prolongation is detected.
All patients started should be included in a registry for ongoing monitoring.
Additional notes:
1) Bedaquiline should never be used as a single drug.
2) Bedaquiline has a long terminal half-life of 4-5 mos; should be discontinued before
other drugs in regimen.
3) Rifamycins and other CYP3A4 inducers reduce bedaquiline concentrations.
4) Bioavailability is significantly affected by food.
47. NEWER DRUGS FOR MDR-TB PREVENTION
STRATEGIES : DELAMANID
Nitro-dihydro-
imidazooxazole derivative of
metronidazole
Inhibits mycolic acid
synthesis
Potent preclinical in vitro
and in vivo activity against
both drug-susceptible and
drug-resistant strains of TB
48. NEWER DRUGS FOR MDR-TB PREVENTION
STRATEGIES : DELAMANID
• In November 2013, the European Committee for
Medicinal Products for Human Use recommended
granting a conditional marketing authorization for
delamanid for the treatment of MDR-TB
• Recommended indication:
– Use as part of an appropriate combination regimen for
pulmonary MDR-TB in adult patients when an effective
treatment regimen cannot otherwise be composed for
reasons of resistance or tolerability
49. NEWER DRUGS FOR MDR-TB PREVENTION
STRATEGIES :LINEZOLID
Oxazolidinone, approved to treat drug-resistant, Gram-positive bacteria.
Good activity against MDR-TB in vitro and in animal studies.
Use in TB often limited due to long-term toxicities (bone marrow suppression,
neuropathy)
However, retrospective chart review (2003-2007) of 30 pts (29 with pulmonary TB) who
received linezolid 600 mg QD (plus vitamin B6) as part of a regimen for MDR-TB
concluded -
1) Culture conversion occurred in all pulmonary cases at median of 7 wks
2) AEs occurred in only 9 patients, including peripheral and optic neuropathy,
anemia/thrombocytopenia, rash, and diarrhea
3) Only 3 patients stopped linezolid treatment because of AEs
50. NEWER DRUGS FOR MDR-TB PREVENTION
STRATEGIES :SUTEZOLID
Oxazolidinone, related to linezolid.
MOA: protein synthesis inhibition.
Like LZD, has a high barrier to resistance.
More potent than LZD in mice, whole blood culture.
Efficacy in mice similar to isoniazid and/or rifampin and may be synergistic
with other first-line drugs.
May be safer than LZD.
51. NEWER DRUGS FOR MDR-TB PREVENTION
STRATEGIES :PA-824
• PA-824: nitroimidazole-oxazine
– Active in vitro and in mouse
models
• Cross-resistant with delamanid
• High protein binding may render PA-824 less accessible in cavities of
pulmonary TB
• May be useful in combination regimens; synergistic with other drugs
52.
53.
54. MDR-TB WITH HIV CO-INFECTION
The treatment of HIV positive individual with MDR-TB is the same as for
HIV negative patients.
Irrespective of CD4 cell counts, patients co-infected with HIV and TB
should be started on ART as soon as possible after starting TB treatment.
ART should be initiated as soon as possible in all HIV/TB-co-infected
patients with active TB (within 8 weeks after the start of TB treatment).
For patients who are already on ART at the time of MDR-TB diagnosis be
continued on ART when MDR-TB therapy is initiated.
55. MDR-TB IN PATIENTS WITH RENAL IMPAIRMENT
Renal insufficiency due to
longstanding TB disease itself,
previous use of aminoglycosides
or concurrent renal disease is not
uncommon.
Consideration needs to be taken
that MDR-TB patients require
aminoglycosides for 6 months or
more.
Other drugs, which also might
require dose or interval
adjustment in presence of mild
to moderate renal
impairment,are: Ethambutol,
Quinolones, Cycloserine and PAS.
56. MDR-TB IN PATIENTS WITH PRE-EXISTING
LIVER DISEASE
In the RNTCP Regimen for MDR TB, Pyrazinamide, PAS and Ethionamide are potentially
hepatotoxic drugs.
The potential for hepatotoxicity is increased in elderly, alcoholics and in patients with pre-
existing liver disease.
In general, most of second line drugs can be safely used in presence of mild hepatic
impairment, as they are relatively less hepatotoxic than the first-line drugs.
Pyrazinamide should be avoided in such patients.
MDR patients having deranged liver function test (LFT) during pre-treatment evaluation
should be strictly monitored through monthly LFTs while on treatment.However routine
LFT is not recommended in all cases.