Journal Article > Meta-AnalysisFull Text
Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 May 1 (Issue 5); DOI:10.3201/eid2505.181823.
Mbuagbaw L, Guglielmetti L, Hewison CCH, Bakare N, Bastard M, et al.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 May 1 (Issue 5); DOI:10.3201/eid2505.181823.
Bedaquiline is recommended by the World Health Organization for the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB). We pooled data from 5 cohorts of patients treated with bedaquiline in France, Georgia, Armenia, and South Africa and in a multicountry study. The rate of culture conversion to negative at 6 months (by the end of 6 months of treatment) was 78% (95% CI 73.5%-81.9%), and the treatment success rate was 65.8% (95% CI 59.9%-71.3%). Death rate was 11.7% (95% CI 7.0%-19.1%). Up to 91.1% (95% CI 82.2%-95.8%) of the patients experienced >1 adverse event, and 11.2% (95% CI 5.0%-23.2%) experienced a serious adverse event. Lung cavitations were consistently associated with unfavorable outcomes. The use of bedaquiline in MDR and XDR TB treatment regimens appears to be effective and safe across different settings, although the certainty of evidence was assessed as very low.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Effectiveness of bedaquiline use beyond six months in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023 June 1; Volume 207 (Issue 11); 1525-1532.; DOI:10.1164/rccm.202211-2125OC
Trevisi L, Hernán MA, Mitnick CD, Khan UT, Seung KJ, et al.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023 June 1; Volume 207 (Issue 11); 1525-1532.; DOI:10.1164/rccm.202211-2125OC
RATIONALE
Current recommendations for the treatment of rifampin- and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis include bedaquiline used for six months or longer. Evidence is needed to inform the optimal duration of bedaquiline.
OBJECTIVES
We emulated a target trial to estimate the effect of three bedaquiline duration treatment strategies (6 months, 7-11 months, ≥ 12 months) on the probability of successful treatment among patients receiving a longer individualized regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
METHODS
To estimate the probability of successful treatment, we implemented a three-step approach comprising cloning, censoring, and inverse-probability weighting.
MAIN RESULTS
The 1,468 eligible individuals received a median of four (IQR: 4-5) likely effective drugs. In 87.1% and 77.7%, this included linezolid and clofazimine, respectively. The adjusted probability of successful treatment (95% CI) was 0.85 (0.81, 0.88) for 6 months of BDQ, 0.77 (0.73, 0.81) for 7-11 months, and 0.86 (0.83, 0.88) for > 12 months. Compared with 6 months of bedaquiline, the ratio of treatment success (95% CI) was 0.91 (0.85, 0.96) for 7-11 months and 1.01 (0.96, 1.06) for > 12 months. Analyses that did not account for immortal time bias found a higher probability of successful treatment with > 12 months: ratio 1.09 (1.05, 1.14).
CONCLUSIONS
Bedaquiline use beyond six months did not increase the probability of successful treatment among patients receiving longer regimens that commonly included new and repurposed drugs. When not properly accounted for, immortal person-time can bias estimate of effects of treatment duration. Future analyses should explore the effect of duration of bedaquiline and other drugs in subgroups with advanced disease and/or receiving less potent regimens.
Current recommendations for the treatment of rifampin- and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis include bedaquiline used for six months or longer. Evidence is needed to inform the optimal duration of bedaquiline.
OBJECTIVES
We emulated a target trial to estimate the effect of three bedaquiline duration treatment strategies (6 months, 7-11 months, ≥ 12 months) on the probability of successful treatment among patients receiving a longer individualized regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
METHODS
To estimate the probability of successful treatment, we implemented a three-step approach comprising cloning, censoring, and inverse-probability weighting.
MAIN RESULTS
The 1,468 eligible individuals received a median of four (IQR: 4-5) likely effective drugs. In 87.1% and 77.7%, this included linezolid and clofazimine, respectively. The adjusted probability of successful treatment (95% CI) was 0.85 (0.81, 0.88) for 6 months of BDQ, 0.77 (0.73, 0.81) for 7-11 months, and 0.86 (0.83, 0.88) for > 12 months. Compared with 6 months of bedaquiline, the ratio of treatment success (95% CI) was 0.91 (0.85, 0.96) for 7-11 months and 1.01 (0.96, 1.06) for > 12 months. Analyses that did not account for immortal time bias found a higher probability of successful treatment with > 12 months: ratio 1.09 (1.05, 1.14).
CONCLUSIONS
Bedaquiline use beyond six months did not increase the probability of successful treatment among patients receiving longer regimens that commonly included new and repurposed drugs. When not properly accounted for, immortal person-time can bias estimate of effects of treatment duration. Future analyses should explore the effect of duration of bedaquiline and other drugs in subgroups with advanced disease and/or receiving less potent regimens.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2018 July 1; Volume 22 (Issue 7); 766-772.; DOI:10.5588/ijtld.17.0840
Hewison CCH, Bastard M, Khachatryan N, Kotrikadze T, Hayrapetyan A, et al.
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2018 July 1; Volume 22 (Issue 7); 766-772.; DOI:10.5588/ijtld.17.0840
BACKGROUND AND SETTING
Bedaquiline (BDQ) was initially only available through compassionate use programmes.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness and safety of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment containing BDQ.
METHOD
Retrospective analysis of data from patients receiving BDQ through compassionate use in Armenia and Georgia from April 2013 to April 2015. Logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes.
RESULTS
Of 82 patients included, 84.2% (69/82) had fluoroquinolone-resistant MDR-TB and 43.4% (23/53) were seropositive for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The culture conversion rate was 84.4% (54/64), and 18.5% (10/54) reverted back to positive. In total, 79.3% (65/82) of the patients reported at least one adverse event. Serious adverse events were reported in 14 patients, with 10/14 patients experiencing fatal outcomes—6/10 related to advanced TB and 2/10 assessed as possibly related to BDQ. Treatment outcomes were as follows: 58.5% treatment success, 12.2% deaths, 7.3% failures and 21.9% lost to follow-up. HCV coinfection was associated with unsuccessful outcomes (adjusted OR 4.45, 95%CI 1.23–16.13).
CONCLUSION
BDQ through compassionate use showed relatively good success rates and safety profiles in a cohort with difficult-to-treat MDR-TB. High rates of reversion may indicate that >24 weeks of BDQ is necessary in some cases. HCV coinfection should be diagnosed and treatment considered in MDR-TB patients.
Bedaquiline (BDQ) was initially only available through compassionate use programmes.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness and safety of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment containing BDQ.
METHOD
Retrospective analysis of data from patients receiving BDQ through compassionate use in Armenia and Georgia from April 2013 to April 2015. Logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes.
RESULTS
Of 82 patients included, 84.2% (69/82) had fluoroquinolone-resistant MDR-TB and 43.4% (23/53) were seropositive for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The culture conversion rate was 84.4% (54/64), and 18.5% (10/54) reverted back to positive. In total, 79.3% (65/82) of the patients reported at least one adverse event. Serious adverse events were reported in 14 patients, with 10/14 patients experiencing fatal outcomes—6/10 related to advanced TB and 2/10 assessed as possibly related to BDQ. Treatment outcomes were as follows: 58.5% treatment success, 12.2% deaths, 7.3% failures and 21.9% lost to follow-up. HCV coinfection was associated with unsuccessful outcomes (adjusted OR 4.45, 95%CI 1.23–16.13).
CONCLUSION
BDQ through compassionate use showed relatively good success rates and safety profiles in a cohort with difficult-to-treat MDR-TB. High rates of reversion may indicate that >24 weeks of BDQ is necessary in some cases. HCV coinfection should be diagnosed and treatment considered in MDR-TB patients.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2017 February 1; Volume 21 (Issue 2); 167-174.; DOI:10.5588/ijtld.16.0493
Guglielmetti L, Hewison CCH, Avaliani Z, Hughes AJ, Kiria N, et al.
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2017 February 1; Volume 21 (Issue 2); 167-174.; DOI:10.5588/ijtld.16.0493
BACKGROUND
For the first time in almost 50 years, there are new drugs available for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), including bedaquiline (BDQ) and delamanid (DLM). The rate of introduction, however, has not kept pace with patient needs. It is estimated that as many as 23% of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients have an indication for receiving BDQ. As this is the first time the MDR-TB community is introducing new medications, it is important to understand how implementation can be developed in a variety of settings.
METHODS
A qualitative assessment of country TB programs in which more than 5% of MDR-TB patients were started on BDQ under program conditions.
RESULTS
National TB programs in Belarus, France, Georgia, South Africa, and Swaziland all started sizeable cohorts of patients on BDQ in 2015. Common factors observed in these programs included experience with compassionate use/expanded access, support from implementing partners, and adequate national or donor-supported budgets. Barriers to introduction included restriction of BDQ to the in-patient setting, lack of access to companion drugs, and the development of systems for pharmacovigilance.
CONCLUSION
The five countries in this paper are examples of the introduction of new therapeutic options for the treatment of TB.
For the first time in almost 50 years, there are new drugs available for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), including bedaquiline (BDQ) and delamanid (DLM). The rate of introduction, however, has not kept pace with patient needs. It is estimated that as many as 23% of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients have an indication for receiving BDQ. As this is the first time the MDR-TB community is introducing new medications, it is important to understand how implementation can be developed in a variety of settings.
METHODS
A qualitative assessment of country TB programs in which more than 5% of MDR-TB patients were started on BDQ under program conditions.
RESULTS
National TB programs in Belarus, France, Georgia, South Africa, and Swaziland all started sizeable cohorts of patients on BDQ in 2015. Common factors observed in these programs included experience with compassionate use/expanded access, support from implementing partners, and adequate national or donor-supported budgets. Barriers to introduction included restriction of BDQ to the in-patient setting, lack of access to companion drugs, and the development of systems for pharmacovigilance.
CONCLUSION
The five countries in this paper are examples of the introduction of new therapeutic options for the treatment of TB.