Skip to main content
. 2023 Nov 20;12(11):1372. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12111372

Table 1.

Current regimens recommended by WHO for DR TB treatment in children [21].

Regimens Regimen Eligibility
Isoniazid monoresistance 6-month regimen of (H)REZ-Lfx. In case Lfx cannot be used, (H)REZ to be given for 6 months. No need to add streptomycin. For children of any age with isoniazid monoresistance.
Shorter all-oral 9-month regimen for MDR/RR-TB 4–6 months regimen of Bdq (6 months)-Lfx/Mfx-Cfz-Z-E-Hh-Eto /5-month regimen of Lfx/Mfx-Cfz-Z-E

  • MDR/RR TB fluoroquinolone resistance excluded

  • Not exposed to second-line TB medicines for more than one month

  • No extensive TB disease+

  • No severe extrapulmonary TB
Shorter regimen for MDR/RR-TB with quinolone resistance 6–9 month treatment regimen composed of bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid—BPaL regimen *

  • Bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB

  • At least 14 years of age and weight greater than 35 kg

  • Not pregnant/breastfeeding and willing to use effective contraception

  • No known allergy/known resistance to any components of the regimen

  • Not exposed to components for more than 2 weeks

  • No extrapulmonary TB

Relative contraindications:

  • Concurrent use of medications that can have drug interaction with BPaL component drugs

  • High risk of cardiac arrhythmia

  • Severe anemia, leucopenia, or thrombocytopenia

  • Severe hepatic failure

  • Severe renal failure

  • Severe neuropathy
Longer regimen for MDR/RR-TB 18-month regimen Bdq(6 m)-Lfx/Mfx-Lzd-Cfz For those not eligible for a shorter all-oral bedaquiline-containing MDR TB regimen

* Moxifloxacin can be added to this regimen (BPaLM) in case there is an absence or unknown resistance to fluoroquinolones. H: isoniazid, Hh: high-dose isoniazid, R: rifampicin, E: ethambutol, Z: pyrazinamide, Lfx: levofloxacin, Bdq: bedaquiline, Mfx: moxifloxacin, Cfz: clofazamine, Eto: ethionamide, Pa: pretomanid. +Extensive TB disease is defined in this document as the presence of bilateral cavitary disease or extensive parenchymal damage on chest radiography. In children under 15 years of age, the advanced disease is usually defined by the presence of cavities or bilateral disease on chest radiography. + Severe extrapulmonary TB is defined as the presence of miliary TB or TB meningitis. In children under 15 years of age, extrapulmonary forms of disease other than lymphadenopathy (peripheral nodes or isolated mediastinal mass without compression) are considered severe.