WHO issues “rapid communication” on treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis and hepatitis C

A new WHO “rapid communication” on treatment strategies for patients co-infected with hepatitis C (HCV) and multi-drug or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) notes that patients with confirmed MDR/RR-TB and HCV could benefit from co-administration of relevant therapies under programmatic conditions. The communication notes that patients with MDR/RR-TB can undergo treatment with either shorter or longer all-oral regimens concurrently with HCV treatment.

The rapid communication aims to inform national TB programmes, technical partners and other stakeholders about the key implications for the co-administration of treatment for MDR/RR-TB and HCV, to facilitate seamless integration and planning at the country level. The forthcoming edition of the WHO consolidated guidelines on the treatment of TB and drug-resistant TB will feature updated recommendations and detailed results of the evidence review that informed the analysis.