Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that is a major cause of ill health and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It is caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Drug-resistant TB continues to be a public health threat. The Standard DR TB regimen under PMDT for MDR TB comprises of Shorter oral Bedaquilline containing regimen and a longer oral Bedaquilline containing regimen. The patients are screened based on various criteria and the patients eligible for shorter oral BDQ containing regimen are started on shorter regimen and the rest are started on longer regimen.

Shorter regimen comprises 9-12 months divided into 6 months of intensive phase (Lfx, Mfx, Cfz, Z, E, H(h), Eto) and 5 months of continuation phase (Lfx/Mfx, Cfz, Z, E).

Longer MDR TB regimen has a duration of 18 to 24 months. The drugs are divided into three groups A, B and C.  As per WHO 2020 recommendations all three Group A agents and at least one Group B agent should be included to ensure that the treatment starts with at least 4 drugs and at least 3 drugs are continued when Bdq is stopped. However, in India, the experts concurred to start with all 5 drugs of group A and B and continue with 4 drugs in the later part of the regimen.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of longer regimen vs shorter regimen in multi drug resistant tuberculosis. This study will be conducted in AVBRH, a tertiary care hospital, attached to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, situated in the rural area of Sawangi Meghe, Wardha in central India. All patients of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis attending the outpatient department(OPD)/admitted to the Inpatient department (IPD) of Respiratory Medicine Department and General Medicine Department AVBRH, Sawangi (Meghe) fulfilling the inclusion criteria will comprise study material.

All new MDR /XDR TB patients or MDR/XDR patients already under treatment from our institute will be taken for this study. Patients will be divided into two groups. One group will comprise patients on longer regimen and the second group will comprise patients on shorter regimen.

Follow up will be taken with monthly sputum smear examination from the third month and culture at the end of the third month, sixth month, ninth month, and/or end of treatment. Both groups will be compared for treatment outcome, drug compliance, and adverse effects.