DETERMINATION OF SENSITIVITY TO LINEZOLID IN DRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS CASES

Introduction: Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and remains a leading infectious cause of mortality globally. Linezolid, an oxazolidinone, has strong in vitro evidence of action against drug resistant isolates of M. tuberculosis. It can be administered orally or intravenously and has been shown to be highly benecial if used for at least six months. Aim: To determine the sensitivity of linezolid in patients with Drug-resistant tuberculosis. Methods: An 18-month observational study was conducted in the TB Culture and Drug Sensitivity Screening lab of the Department of Microbiology at the Tertiary Care Center in Mumbai on a sample size of 1031 patients. Samples from pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients of MDR/XDR (conrmed by LPA) cases were collected for phenotypic DST for Linezolid utilizing the automated BACTEC MGIT 960 system in a biosafety level 3 lab. Results: Out of 1031 patients, 88.9% were sensitive to Linezolid, and 11.1% were resistant. Linezolid sensitivity for MDR-TB patients was 88.72% of the cases being sensitive, and 11.28% resistant. Linezolid sensitivity in pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis was 88.27% and 11.73% were resistant. Among 1031 samples, 50 samples taken for Linezolid and Bedaquiline liquid DST, of which 15 were XDR and 4 samples among these 15 XDR samples were sensitive to Linezolid Conclusion: The study concluded that Linezolid is an effective drug used in the NTEP for the treatment of M/XDR-TB, H mono/poly DRTB, as well as the newer BPaL regimen. The results showed an overall sensitivity of 88.9%.