ASU drug for MDR-TB

Integrated approach to treat MDR-TB mooted Afshan Yasmeen The Hindu Bengaluru, January 27, 2015 Updated: January 27, 2015 05:46 IST Research proposal sent to Directorate of AYUSH In an initiative that is aimed at effective management and treatment of multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis cases, the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) is working on integrating ayurveda with modern medicine. The proposal cleared by the institute’s Ethical Committee has been sent to the State Directorate of AYUSH for approval, RGICD Director Shashidhar Buggi said on Monday. “The integrated approach will not just benefit patients, but also help us in coming up with a scientific study on integration. We want to compare the sputum conversion rate, general well-being, and clinical and radiological improvement in patients treated with modern medicine, and those with an integrated approach,” Dr. Buggi explained. He said the proposal would also be sent to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) soon. A similar comprehensive management strategy was adopted in the institute by integrating homeopathy with modern medicine during the H1N1 outbreak in the State. Yoga therapy started “As part of the pulmonary rehabilitation programme, we have already started yoga therapy. We are also using the services of ayurveda and homeopathy practitioners as visiting consultants at the institute,” he said. Stating that treatment of MDR-TB was challenging, Dr. Buggi said the best firstline anti-TB drugs (rifampicin and isoniazid) were not effective against MDR-TB. Nearly 3 per cent of the newly diagnosed sputum positive cases are found to develop MDR-TB. One patient can directly spread the disease to at least 10 others if it is not checked at the initial stage.