CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Dive Brief: The World Health Organization (WHO) has suspended approval of all tuberculosis (TB) products produced by Svizera Labs at its Mumbai, India site, according to Reuters. During an inspection of Svizera Labs last fall, the WHO found dirty surfaces, black mold, poor-hygiene situations and faulty record-keeping.

Detailed explanation-2: -During the intensive phase of standard treatment, patients take a daily combination of four medications: isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol. These four drugs are referred to as first-line drugs, and are off-patent and cheap.

Detailed explanation-3: -Developed by a non-profit organization, TB Alliance, Pretomanid is the newest anti-TB drug, prescribed as part of the BPaL regimen, which includes two other drugs – Bedaquiline and Linezolid.

Detailed explanation-4: -First-line agents for treatment of TB disease consist of isoniazid, a rifamycin (rifampin or [less frequently] either rifapentine or rifabutin), pyrazinamide, and ethambutol; in addition, moxifloxacin is a first-line agent when administered in combination with isoniazid, rifapentine, and pyrazinamide [6].

Detailed explanation-5: -What is DOT? DOT means that a trained health care worker or other designated individual (excluding a family member) provides the prescribed TB drugs and watches the patient swallow every dose.