WHO Treatment Guidelines for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, 2016 Update

Excerpt

The WHO treatment guidelines for drug-resistant tuberculosis (2016 update) contains policy recommendations on priority areas in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The revision is in accordance with the WHO requirements for the formulation of evidence-informed policy.

The main novelties of the 2016 WHO guidelines are:

1. a shorter MDR-TB treatment regimen is recommended under specific conditions;

2. medicines used in the design of conventional MDR-TB treatment regimens are now reclassified to reflect updates in the evidence on their effectiveness and safety;

3. specific recommendations are made on the treatment of children with rifampicin-resistant or MDR-TB based on a first-ever individual patient data meta-analysis;

4. recommendations on the role of surgery in MDR-TB case management are included.