News 2025

Analyzing data from 188 patients diagnosed between 2017 and 2023, the study found high resistance rates to key Group A tuberculosis drugs, including bedaquiline (48.4%) and linezolid (34.0%). The use of 151 distinct drug combinations across the cohort highlighted the absence of standardized regimens. The mortality rate among patients was 21.3%, while treatment failure occurred in 37.1% of cases.

Importantly, the study identified significant disparities in outcomes between high-income and upper middle-income countries, with patients in the latter group facing more than 13 times higher odds of unsuccessful treatment. The number of likely effective drugs in a regimen was strongly associated with better outcomes, underscoring the need for rapid and comprehensive drug susceptibility testing (DST).

“These results are deeply concerning and highlight the urgent need for equitable access to effective diagnostics, newer anti-TB drugs, and standardized treatment protocols,” said corresponding author Prof. Christoph Lange, Medical Director of the research Center Borstel, Germany.

With global efforts to end TB by 2035 under threat, the authors call for international action to improve XDR-TB treatment infrastructure, expand DST capacity, and accelerate access to new regimens through compassionate use and stewardship programs.

Publication:

Kherabi, YousraAubry, Alexandra et al. 2025 'Treatment outcomes of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in Europe: a retrospective cohort study' The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Volume 56, 101380, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101380