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Improved Treatment Outcomes With Bedaquiline When Substituted for Second-line Injectable Agents in Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Zhao Y, Fox T, Manning K, Stewart A, Tiffin N, Khomo N, Leslie J, Boulle A et al.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2019

162 participants

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bedaquiline is used as a substitute for second-line injectable (SLI) intolerance in the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis, but the efficacy and safety of this strategy is unknown.

METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study adults receiving bedaquiline substitution for MDR tuberculosis therapy, plus a matched control group who did not receive bedaquiline, were identified from the electronic tuberculosis register in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with death, loss to follow-up, or failure to achieve sustained culture conversion at 12 months of treatment.

RESULTS: Data from 162 patients who received bedaquiline substitution and 168 controls were analyzed; 70.6% were infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Unfavorable outcomes occurred in 35 of 146 (23.9%) patients in the bedaquiline group versus 51 of 141 (36.2%) in the control group (relative risk, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, .46 -.95). The number of patients with culture reversion was lower in those receiving bedaquiline (1 patient; 0.8%) than in controls (12 patients; 10.3%; P = .001). Delayed initiation of bedaquiline was independently associated with failure to achieve sustained culture conversion (adjusted odds ratio for every 30-day delay, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.9). Mortality rates were similar at 12 months (11 deaths in each group; P = .97).

CONCLUSIONS: Substituting bedaquiline for SLIs in MDR…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 162 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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