Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: Case studies

Impact of drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment on hearing function in South African adults: Bedaquiline versus kanamycin

Background

Ototoxicity linked to medications used to treat tuberculosis (TB) remains a global challenge.

Objectives

The aim was to describe the audiological function in a group of adults with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) on bedaquiline (G-BDQ) treatment attending a TB hospital in South Africa and compare this with patients on kanamycin (G-KCIN).

Methods

A quantitative paradigm was adopted within a non-experimental retrospective record review design. The sample consisted of 30 records of adults with DR-TB between the ages of 18 and 50 years, recruited from a Tropical Diseases Hospital in South Africa. Data were analysed through both descriptive and inferential statistical measures.

Results

Clear and statistically significant differences in the audiological function were found between the two groups. The group receiving G-KCIN presented with ototoxicity that was clearly demonstrated by sensorineural hearing loss of high-frequency worsening of thresholds in over 73% of the records, which was statistically (p < 0.05) and clinically significant, over the three testing sessions, demonstrating the cumulative effects of dosage. Increased evidence of tinnitus was also found in this group. The group receiving G-BDQ presented with neither statistically (p > 0.05) nor clinically significant changes in hearing thresholds across all frequencies over the same monitoring timeframe. Additionally, only one report (7%) of tinnitus was found in this group.

Conclusion

The results indicating that bedaquiline does not cause hearing loss when compared with G-KCIN highlight the need for increased availability of bedaquiline for the treatment of DR-TB within the South African context, to preserve both the quantity and quality of life of those infected.

Cochlear Dysfunction after Kanamycin Injection in Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis Patients

Background: Longterm exposure to aminoglycoside such as kanamycin to cochlear cells is known to be associated with damage to outer hair cells in the organ Cortiand type 1 sensory hair cells in the vestibular organs which ultimately causes permanent damage to hair cells. Hair cell damage occurs from the basal cochlea (high frequency area) to the apex cochlea (low frequency area) and followed by damage from the auditory nerve. Evaluation of cochlear dysfunction on multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) patients have been rarelyreported in the literature based on distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE).Objectives: To prove cochlear dysfunction after kanamycin injection in MDR TB patient based on DPOAE examination of the overall frequencies and specific frequency.Methods: An observational longitudinal analytic with pre and post design without control group conducted in the infection division of MDR TB Outpatients Pulmonology Department and Otorhinolaryngology Community division of ORL-HNS Department Dr. Soetomo general hospital Surabaya, within 3 months in 2018, 15 ear with the best baseline examination were taken by consecutive sampling and statistical analysis for cochlear dysfunction based on overall  frequency and specific frequency DPOAE examination using Mc Nemar test.Results: Based on DPOAE examination of overall frequencies there was no cochlear dysfunction (p > 0.05) but a significant difference was found at frequency of 10,000 Hertz (Hz) (p = 0.002 ).Conclusion:On ototoxicity monitoring there was no cochlear dysfunction after 4 weeks  Kanamycin injection but cochlear dysfunction occurs at a specific frequency of 10,000 Hz.