First effective treatment to prevent multidrug-resistant TB

healthcare clinic An oral antibiotic taken once daily for six months can substantially reduce the risk of developing multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) in both children and adults, according to two landmark clinical trials involving UCL researchers. The results were announced at the Union World Conference on Lung Health in Paris. One trial, known as TB-CHAMP, took place in South Africa, at five research sites in six provinces serving communities with high burdens of TB and MDR-TB. It was led by Stellenbosch University, and the MRC Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) at UCL were responsible for the trial management and statistical analysis. The study included 922 children and adolescents exposed to an adult with MDR-TB in their household, and found that levofloxacin reduced the risk of MDR-TB disease by 56%. After one year, five children (1.1%) who were given levofloxacin had developed TB, compared to 12 (2.6%) who were given a placebo. The study also found that levofloxacin was safe for children, with very few side effects reported.