Effectiveness and Safety of Short-term Regimen for Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis Treatment: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies

Abstract

This systematic review explores the effectiveness and safety of a short-term regimen (STR) in treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). We use several cohort studies which were searched using standardized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The keywords were used based on problem, intervention, comparison, and outcome consisted of MDR-TB and STR. Seven cohort studies were selected from 314 studies. The result showed that STR has better therapeutic efficacy and shorter duration than the 2011 World Health Organization regimen for MDR-TB with success rates above 50% in respective studies. The most effective regimen was kanamycin-high-dose isoniazid-clofazimine-ethambutol-prothionamide-pyrazinamide-gatifloxacin in the intensive phase for four months and clofazimine-ethambutol-pyrazinamide-gatifloxacin-prothionamide in the continuation phase for eight months. Gastrointestinal problems, ototoxicity, dysglycemia, and liver problems were the most reported side effects. STR provides good effectiveness in MDR-TB treatment in terms of treatment success rate and short therapy duration.