2014 World Tuberculosis Day

For the 2014 World TB (Tuberculosis) Day on 24 March 2014 many individuals, groups and organizations are standing together to spread the message of ZERO STIGMA. As the international leader in the fight against TB, Dr. Mario Raviglione, the director of the Global TB Programme at the WHO shared this ZERO STIGMA message. Take up his call to action and join the cause! 

New Guidelines of Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Dear Respiratory we are happy to present New Guidelines of Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis!

It can be a Revolution in treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis!

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, the two most effective of the four first-line TB drugs (the other two drugs being ethambutol and pyrazinamide). MDR TB includes the subcategory of extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR TB), which is MDR TB with additional resistance to any fluoroquinolone and to at least one of three injectable anti-TB drugs (i.e., kanamycin, capreomycin, or amikacin). MDR TB is difficult to cure, requiring 18–24 months of treatment after sputum culture conversion with a regimen that consists of four to six medications with toxic side effects, and carries a mortality risk greater than that of drug-susceptible TB.

Bedaquiline fumarate (Sirturo or bedaquiline) is an oral diarylquinoline. On December 28, 2012, on the basis of data from two Phase IIb trials (i.e., well-controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of drugs in patients with a disease or condition to be treated, diagnosed, or prevented), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved use of bedaquiline under the provisions of the accelerated approval regulations for "serious or life-threatening illnesses" (21CFR314.500) (Cox EM. FDA accelerated approval letter to Janssen Research and Development.