Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) in Germany, Austria and Switzerland - Updated Recommendations Based on the WHO Guidelines 2025
Abstract
Following new recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) in 2025, the Tuberculosis Guidelines Group for Germany, Austria and Switzerland has decided to update the guidelines for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) as well. DR-TB includes resistant forms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including isoniazid monoresistance, multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB), pre-extensively drug-resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). For MDR/RR-TB and pre-XDR-TB without additional resistance to bedaquiline and/or linezolid, two 6-month, purely oral short-term regimens are recommended (BPaLM or BDLLfx for MDR/RR-TB and BPaL or BDLC for pre-XDR-TB [*B = bedaquiline, C = clofazimine, D = delamanid, L = linezolid, Lfx = levofloxacin; M = moxifloxacin; Pa = pretomanid]). In cases of severe or extensive disease and immunosuppression, therapy can be extended to 9 months, for example, or carried out as an individualized 18-month regimen. For XDR-TB and intolerance to bedaquiline or linezolid, individualized combination therapies with at least four effective substances are recommended. In addition to pharmacological aspects, this update emphasizes the importance of quality-assured diagnostics, secure drug supply and socio-medical support to prevent treatment discontinuation. Due to the low number of cases, treatment in specialized centers or in cooperation with them is recommended. The…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Synthesis, In Vitro and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Novel Phthalimide–Pyrimidine Hybrid Analogues to Thalidomide as Potent Antitubercular Agents
- Exploring the inhibitory performance of expired moxifloxacin and norfloxacin on copper corrosion in saline environment
- Molecular investigation of antimicrobial peptides against Helicobacter pylori proteins using a peptide-protein docking approach
- Screening of novel narrow-spectrum benzofuroxan derivatives for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis through in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches
- Synthesis, Characterization, Anticancer, Antioxidant, and In Silico Evaluation of Semicarbazides and Thiosemicarbazides
- Fast and accurate prediction of drug induced proarrhythmic risk with sex specific cardiac emulators
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.