Important Observation: Rationality behind CAT II regimen in Relapse TB Cases?

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Important Observation: Rationality behind CAT II regimen in Relapse TB Cases?

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Patients who have failed to improve during Cat I treatment are often placed in

Cat II. Many International Experts believe that patients who have not responded

to Observed TB CAT I treatment most often have a high liklihood of MDR TB and

should receive CAT IV or DOTS Plus treatment after culture and sensitivity if

warranted and should not be empirically put on CAT II treatment which might turn

futile after another 7-8 months ( huge drug and time wastage and patient might

keep deteriorating ).

Partners in Health Programme in Infectious Diseases and Social Change, Harvard

Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital also advocates for the changed

approach in the Community Based Treatment of HIV in Resource Poor Settings (

Page- 23)

The last months Journal of Association of Physicians of India (JAPI) in the

editorial has stated similar concern. (XDR-TB in India : When Will We Heed The

Alarm? ZF Udwadia (Consultant Chest Physician, Hinduja Hospital and Research

Center, Mumbai, India) Journal of Association of Physicians of India. Vol. 56 •

June 2008. http://japi.org/june_2008/editorial_409.html

Dr Diwakar Tejaswi MBBS(Gold Medalist); MCH; FCCP; Ph.D.

Consultant Physician and Medical Director

Regional AIDS Training Centre and Network in India(RATNEI)

International Health Organization

Res: MIG 161, Lohianagar, Kankarbagh, Patna 800020, India

India Office: B-33, Indirapuri Colony, Patna 800014, India

Phone: +91-612-3299323 (O); 2586788 (Telefax O); Clinic- Telefax:

+91-612-2206964; Mobile: +91-9835078298; Res: +91-612-2351771

www.ihousa.org

e-mail: <diwakartejaswi@...>