Oeurn Heur, a married man with three children, aged 46, is a worker for a private oil company. Oeurn has never had a history of TB, but he was diagnosed with rifampicin resistant TB (RR-TB) in November 2021 at the Preah Sihanouk referral hospital following his self-referral. The second test was performed to confirm the diagnosis and the result remained the same. He was then referred to the National Center for TB and Leprosy Control (CENAT), where he received a baseline evaluation including clinical and paraclinical examinations by the Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) team. Oeurn was enrolled on an all-oral treatment regimen on November 26, 2021. Ourn received all comprehensive counseling and health education for his treatment and he returned back home on the same day.
Oeurn experienced side effects, such as severe vomiting and anorexia, during the first few months; however, he well-tolerated the treatment. During the course of treatment, he received continuous support from his family, monthly visits by project field nurse and frequent visits by project doctors with the mobile team to manage any worsening clinical manifestations or side effects. Oeurn completed his treatment course on August 31, 2022. He also gained weight from 50 to 55 kilograms. Oeurn and his wife really appreciated the kindness acts of the project field officer who compassionated and regularly paid monthly visits and follow-up his status.
A few years ago individuals with RR-TB were treated for close to 2 years, including at least 6 months of daily painful injections. The advent of new TB medicines and research supported by USAID and other partners has resulted in the development of efficacious, shorter, and all-oral TB treatment regimens for RR-TB that are now being given to individuals like Oeurn.
