Under WHO 2022 MDR-TB guidelines adopted by NTEP, Bedaquiline belongs to which drug group and should be included in every MDR-TB regimen unless contraindicated?

• A Group B (add-on agents)
• B Group A (core priority agents) ✓
• C Group C (reserve agents)
• D Group D (backbone oral agents)

Explanation

Per WHO 2022 consolidated MDR-TB guidelines (adopted in NTEP), Group A comprises three core high-priority oral agents: Levofloxacin/Moxifloxacin, Bedaquiline, and Linezolid — all three should be included unless contraindicated. Group B includes Clofazimine and Cycloserine; Group C includes older reserve agents. Bedaquiline's inclusion in Group A reflects its bactericidal activity against both replicating and non-replicating M. tuberculosis.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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