Clinical efficacy and computed tomography diagnostic value of bedaquiline-containing regimens in the treatment of drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis

Objective:This study investigated the clinical efficacy of bedaquilinecontaining regimens in the treatment of drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis and the diagnostic value of computed tomography(CT).Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical diagnosis,treatment,and CT imaging data of patients with drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis treated in Wenzhou Central Hospital from 1 January to 31 December 2022.According to whether the treatment regimen contained bedaquiline,the patients were divided into an observation group(bedaquiline tablets t background regimen)and a control group(background regimen).The clinical efficacy and pulmonary CT changes before and after treatment were analyzed in both groups.Results:After 24 weeks of treatment,there was no statistically significant difference in the white blood cell count or concentrations of hemoglobin,alanine aminotransferase,serum albumin,or creatinine between the two groups(t=0.71,0.93,0.05,0.18,and 0.08,respectively;p>0.05).After 4,8,and 12 weeks of treatment,there was no statistically significant difference in the sputum culture-negative conversion rate between the two groups(χ^(2)=2.67,0.48,and 1.82,respectively;p>0.05).At 24 weeks of treatment,the sputum culture-negative conversion rate in the observation group reached 100%,which was significantly higher than that in the control group(χ^(2)=3.97,p<0.05).The effective absorption rates on chest imaging in the two groups of patients at 12 weeks were 83.33% and 57.89%,respectively.At 24 weeks of treatment,the effective absorption rates were 88.00% and 65.85% in the two groups,with a statistically significant difference(χ^(2)=3.98;p<0.05).There were significant differences in cavity absorption at 24 weeks(χ^(2)=4.33,p<0.05)and 48 weeks after treatment(χ^(2)=10.63,p<0.05).Conclusion:The addition of bedaquiline to the background regimen improved the sputum culture-negative conversion rate and chest imaging effective rate.Patients achieved good results at the end of the 24-week treatment period.