Experiences of Introducing New Drugs for Drug-Resistant TB at the ALERT Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2017–2019
Experiences of Introducing New Drugs for Drug-Resistant TB at the ALERT Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2017–2019
Abstract
Background
Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) remains a major public health concern. DR-TB patient data from ALERT (All Africa Leprosy, Tuberculosis and Rehabilitation Training Centre) Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who received bedaquiline (BDQ) and/or delamanid (DLM) containing regimens were analysed.
Results
From 2017 to 2019, 51 DR-TB patients were enrolled. Of 33 patients, 31 (93.9%) had culture converted at 6 months. Of those with final outcomes, 77% (n = 10) were cured. Thirty (58.8%) developed adverse events, the most frequent of which were gastrointestinal disorders (70%), haematological disorders (16.7%) and QTc prolongation (16.7%). Twenty patients discontinued the offending drug permanently.
Conclusion
With close monitoring, introduction of new DR-TB regimens brought good early results, which encouraged wider programmatic implementation in Ethiopia.