The medical organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) today released new evidence at the 6th South African AIDS Conference in Durban on early success using the high-strength antibiotic, linezolid as part of a treatment regimen for patients with extensively drug- resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). This is some of the first clinical data from both an African and primary care context suggesting that linezolid is safe and effective for treating patients with XDR-TB, including those co-infected with HIV.
Despite growing rates of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), and mounting global evidence on the effectiveness of linezolid in treating the disease, access to the drug in South Africa is limited due to high prices. However, as more quality-assured generics become available, South Africa has the chance to seek alternatives to the single supplier currently on the domestic market.
Recent Comments