Shorter Oral Regimen for Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis in South Korea

Abstract

The treatment of multidrug- and rifampin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) poses significant challenges, including frequent adverse drug reactions associated with complex treatment regimens involving multiple drugs administered over prolonged periods. However, recent clinical trials, such as Nix-TB, ZeNix, NExT, MDR-END, TB-PRACTECAL, and BEAT-India, have demonstrated that shorter oral regimens yield superior outcomes compared with conventional approaches. Furthermore, the World Health Organization guidelines for MDR/RR-TB treatment recommend a 6-month all-oral regimen that includes bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin. However, the implementation of these shorter oral regimens in South Korea requires careful consideration. Health insurance coverage policies must be reviewed to include new TB drugs, such as pretomanid. The optimal dosage and treatment duration of linezolid should be determined to minimize side effects and prevent drug resistance; moreover, alternative regimens should be identified for patients who discontinue linezolid because of adverse drug reactions.