RNTCP comes out with daily regimen for drug sensitive TB

By Dr Deepu
RNTCP India has come out with a new recommendation to use daily ATT in treatment of drug sensitive tuberculosis.
The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was launched in India in 1997 
based on World Health Organization endorsed Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) 
strategy, employing the thrice weekly treatment regimen.
The Standards for TB Care in India, 2014, which were jointly laid down by Ministry of Health &  Family Welfare, Government of India and World Health Organization, in consultation with experts, based on available evidences and WHO Treatment of TB Guidelines (2010), state that ‘all patients should be given daily regimen. The initial phase should consist of two months of 
Isoniazid (H), Rifampicin (R), Pyrazinamide (Z), and Ethambutol (E). The continuation phase should consist of three drugs, Isoniazid (H), Rifampicin (R) and Ethambutol (E) given for at least 
four months’. The National Technical Working Group (NTWG) on TB/HIV (2013) has recommended use of daily 
regimen using Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) first line TB treatment for PLHIV patients. 
Considering the above, the National Expert Committee to examine type of drug regimen for drug sensitive TB has recommended RNTCP to move towards introducing daily regimen for drug sensitive Tuberculosis in India.
The link to download the guidelines is given below. Please visit the link to download.

Download here