Exploring the role of drug resistant tuberculosis center in the programmatic management: An Indian perspective

Abstract

Global tuberculosis control report – 2012 has revealed that 3.7% of new cases and 20% of retreated cases are estimated to have multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB worldwide. Specific strategies have been implemented under the Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB in India (PMDT) to address the MDR-TB problem. Considering the long duration of treatment, PMDT recommends that treatment of drug resistant forms of TB should be decentralized. However, to supervise and guide the health care providers in the complex medical needs, an expert resource center called as Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) center has been proposed. A DR-TB center plays a crucial role at different levels in the management of drug resistant forms of TB such as pre-treatment evaluation; initiation of treatment; maintenance of hospital wards & airborne infection control measures; management of severe adverse drug reactions; modification in the choice of drugs based on the drug sensitivity test results; and as a clinical expert resource for guidance to the program managers and the health care providers. To conclude, DR-TB center plays a defining role in the overall integrated model of care in RNTCP-PMDT services.

Keywords

• tuberculosis
• revised national tuberculosis control program
• medical college
• india