INSHORT regimen

The INSHORT regimen is an intensified, 6-month short-course treatment for tuberculous meningitis (TBM) being evaluated by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in the Phase 3 INSHORT trial. This multi-drug regimen aims to improve outcomes in TBM, the most lethal form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, by using higher doses of key antibiotics and adding adjunctive therapies. The core components include high-dose rifampicin (25 mg/kg), moxifloxacin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, supplemented with adjunctive corticosteroids (dexamethasone or prednisolone) and, in specific study arms, aspirin. This approach is designed to achieve better cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration and more rapid bacterial clearance compared to the standard 9-12 month treatment protocol, which typically uses standard-dose rifampicin and lacks moxifloxacin.

Other names

Intensified Short Course Regimen for TBMICMR TBM regimen