• Eduardo Abbate, Marisa Vescovo, Marcela Natiello, Mónica Cufré, Ana García, Pablo Gonzalez Montaner, Marta Ambroggi, Viviana Ritacco, and Dick van Soolingen.
• Instituto de Tisioneumonología Prof. Dr. Raúl Vaccarezza, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 405, C1282, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2012 Feb 1;67(2):473-7.

ObjectivesCurrent drug choices to treat extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB) are scarce; therefore, information on the safety, tolerability and efficacy of alternative regimens is of utmost importance. The aim of this study was to describe the management, drug adverse effects and outcome of alternative combined treatment in a series of XDR-TB patients.Patients And MethodsA retrospective study was performed on 17 non-AIDS, pulmonary adult patients with XDR-TB admitted to a referral treatment centre for infectious diseases in Buenos Aires from 2002 through 2008. Drug susceptibility testing was performed under regular proficiency testing and confirmed at the national TB reference laboratory.ResultsLinezolid was included in the drug regimens of all patients; moxifloxacin and/or thioridazine were included in the regimens of 14 patients. Clinically tractable drug adverse effects were observed in nine patients, the most frequent being haematological disorders and neurotoxicity. In two patients, thioridazine was discontinued. Negative culture conversion was achieved in 15 patients, 11 completed treatment meeting cure criteria, 4 are still on follow-up with good evolution, 1 defaulted treatment and 1 was lost to follow-up.ConclusionsThe combination of linezolid, moxifloxacin and thioridazine is recommended for compassionate use in specialized centres with expertise in the management of XDR-TB.

38 keywords...

hide…