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STREAM trial into shorter treatment for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) opens
STREAM trial into shorter treatment for multi-drug
resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) opens
28 June 2012
A new trial looking into whether shorter and
more effective treatment is possible for patients suffering from
multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) has just opened. The
STREAM
trial is the first ever international randomised
controlled trial of treatment for multi-drug resistant TB to assess
long-term outcomes. It will take place in South Africa, Ethiopia,
Vietnam and possibly in India. It is expected to recruit at least
400 people.
Highly effective six-month treatment for drug
sensitive TB is available. However, strains of TB that are
resistant to the key drugs rifampicin and isoniazid are becoming
increasingly common and patients with these strains have much
poorer outcomes, and require much longer (up to 24 months)
treatment. The STREAM trial will test whether a newly developed
more intensive 9 month treatment that includes clofazimine and a
high dose flouroquinolone is at least as effective as the current
longer treatments.
If this trial shows that the new shorter
treatment regimen is as effective as current treatment, it will
greatly improve the quality of life for those with MDR-TB. A
shorter treatment will hopefully improve treatment adherence, which
greatly increases a patient’s chances of being cured of MDR-TB, and
be simpler for over-burdened treatment services to manage.
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