Harianjogja.com, JAKARTA—The World Health Organization (WHO) published Rapid Communication or fast information about drugs to prevent Tuberculosis (TBC) in an effort to reduce the rate of cases globally.
This information was conveyed by former WHO Southeast Asia Director of Infectious Diseases, Professor Tjandra Yoga Aditama, via short message in Jakarta, Sunday. “This is an interesting aspect, because usually we only talk about treating those who are already sick, but it is emphasized again that there is medicine to prevent Tuberculosis,” he said.
Tjandra, who is also Professor of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI), said that the publication published on February 14 2024 included five things related to TB prevention drugs.
First, around a quarter of the world’s population has been infected with TB germs, but they will not necessarily fall ill, either because of the phenomenon of TB bacteria being dormant or because the body’s immune system is stronger.
“Various studies show that around 5-10 percent of people infected with TB can fall ill, and the disease will mainly appear two to five years after the initial infection,” he said.
Second, said Tjandra, WHO clearly states that scientific evidence shows that TB preventive treatment (TPT) for those at high risk will progressively reduce the risk of TB disease.
“In September 2023 at the UN High Level Meeting on Tuberculosis world meeting, a commitment was agreed to increase TB prevention treatment to 45 million people. Indonesia must be part of achieving this world figure, while our current coverage is still low,” he said.
The third thing in the publication states that WHO recommends using the drug levofloxacin for 6 months, specifically for preventive treatment of TB for those in contact with TB patients with multiple resistance or rifampicin resistance (MDR/RR-TB).
“This is in line with the latest research results from South Africa and Vietnam. Of course it would be good if in the future Indonesian research results could also become a world reference as well,” he said.
Fourth, there is a change in dosage in the TB prevention treatment regimen for the drugs levofloxacin and rifapentine, and also joint use with the drug dolutegravir. “This is something new that is expected to provide better prevention,” he said.
Fifth, there is an integration of the 2021 WHO screening guidelines recommendations with the WHO guidelines on new tests of TB infection.
“There is also an updated algorithm for how TB preventive treatment is carried out for those in contact with TB patients, PLWHA groups and other high risk groups,” he said.
TB is an important health problem in the world, including Indonesia which is now the country that contributes the second highest number of TB cases in the world. The Indonesian government has issued Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number: 67 of 2021 to eliminate TB by 2030.
“Hopefully the number of people receiving TB preventative treatment in our country can continue to increase significantly, so that Indonesian people can truly be protected from TB disease which is now killing 16 Indonesians every hour. It’s very sad,” said Tjandra Yoga Aditama.
2024-02-17 23:37:00
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