Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
GS II-Health
Key Developments in TB Treatment
WHO Recommendations (2022): The World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the six-month BPaL regimen (bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid) and BPaLM regimen (BPaL + moxifloxacin) as viable options for drug-resistant TB treatment.
Advanced Diagnostic Expansion: India plans to scale up the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) to improve TB detection by identifying the DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples.
Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT)
Function: A molecular diagnostic tool designed to detect specific genetic material (DNA/RNA) from viruses or bacteria.
Process: The test amplifies minute amounts of nucleic acid in a sample, increasing its quantity for easier detection and diagnosis.
Other TB Detection Methods
Tuberculin Skin Test (TST): A small dose of tuberculin is injected under the skin, and a swelling response suggests prior exposure to TB bacteria, though it does not confirm active infection.
Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRA): Measures the immune response in the blood to determine TB infection.
Chest X-ray: Helps detect lung abnormalities indicative of TB.