Explorative Analysis of Treatment Outcomes of Levofloxacin- and Moxifloxacin-Based Regimens and Outcome Predictors in Ethiopian MDR-TB Patients: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Temesgen Sidamo; Workineh Shibeshi; Getnet Yimer; Eleni Aklillu; Ephrem Engidawork

doi:10.2147/IDR.S342964

Explorative Analysis of Treatment Outcomes of Levofloxacin- and Moxifloxacin-Based Regimens and Outcome Predictors in Ethiopian MDR-TB Patients: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Infect Drug Resist. 2021 Dec 18:14:5473-5489. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S342964. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Temesgen Sidamo¹, Workineh Shibeshi¹, Getnet Yimer², Eleni Aklillu³, Ephrem Engidawork¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
² Global One Health Initiative, Office of International Affairs, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
³ Department of Laboratory of Medicine Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, C-168 141 86, Sweden.

Abstract

Purpose/background: Although Ethiopia is among the thirty high multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) burden countries in the world, comparative therapeutic efficacy of moxifloxacin and levofloxacin has not been explored, particularly in MDR-TB patients. We therefore aimed to prospectively compare clinical outcomes and determine potential predictors of the outcomes among patients on moxifloxacin or levofloxacin-based MDR-TB drug regimens.

Methods: We analyzed clinical parameters and laboratory data of eighty MDR-TB patients on moxifloxacin- or levofloxacin-based regimens. The clinical outcomes were compared using the Kaplan-Meier survival functions and the outcome definitions of the 2013 World Health Organization. Monthly sputum culture conversions and a molecular line probe assay results were also assessed. Observed outcomes and patient-related variables between the two groups were compared using chi-square, Wilcoxon Rank and Fisher exact tests. We also determined the potential predictors influencing treatment outcomes of moxifloxacin and levofloxacin using Cox proportional hazard model.

Results: The levofloxacin-based treatment group had a lower failure rate and adverse drug events as well as better treatment success than the moxifloxacin-based group. Overall treatment success was 65%. Disaggregating the data revealed that 53.8% were cured, 11.2% completed treatment, 10.0% died, 11.2% failed, and 13.8% were lost-to-follow-up. The line probe assay result showed that 11.3% of the clinical isolates were resistant to fluoroquinolones and 3.8% were resistant to both fluoroquinolones and injectable anti-TB agents. Treatment regimen type, culture conversion rate, alcohol use, cavity lesion, serum levels of creatinine and alanine aminotransferase were independent predictors of treatment outcome.

Conclusion: The levofloxacin-based regimen group has a better overall treatment success than the moxifloxacin-based group among MDR-TB patients. Clinical parameters and substance use history of the patients influenced treatment outcomes. We recommend further broader clinical studies to substantiate our findings as an input to review MDR-TB treatment guidelines.

Keywords: Ethiopia; MDR-TB; levofloxacin; line probe assay; moxifloxacin; sputum culture conversion; treatment outcome.