Ethambutol and visual assessment in England: current practice and recommendations.


Journal

Eye (London, England)
ISSN: 1476-5454
Titre abrégé: Eye (Lond)
Pays: England
ID NLM: 8703986

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
22 Jun 2023
Historique:
received: 11 11 2022
accepted: 15 06 2023
revised: 06 06 2023
medline: 23 6 2023
pubmed: 23 6 2023
entrez: 22 6 2023
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

Standard treatment for tuberculosis (TB) in children and adults includes an initial two-month course of ethambutol, a drug that in rare cases can cause optic neuropathy and irreversible vision loss. There is a lack of clear guidance on what vision assessments are needed before and during treatment with ethambutol, with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, British National Formulary and British Thoracic Society offering different guidance. We aimed to assess how vision is routinely tested in patients treated with ethambutol in TB services across England. An online survey developed by Public Health England was sent to all TB services in England in 2018 to assess current practice and inform the development of best practice recommendations for visual assessment of patients treated with ethambutol for TB. Sixty-six TB professionals from across England responded, a response rate of 54%. The results showed variations in practice, including when to omit ethambutol from treatment, the timing and frequency of visual assessment, the type of visual assessment, referral processes and management of visual changes. This national survey highlights the need for clear guidelines on the testing of vision for patients taking ethambutol at recommended doses, before and during treatment. We suggest a pragmatic approach to visual assessment to reduce variation in practice, proposing a stepwise pathway for patients on standard TB treatment for local adaptation.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Standard treatment for tuberculosis (TB) in children and adults includes an initial two-month course of ethambutol, a drug that in rare cases can cause optic neuropathy and irreversible vision loss. There is a lack of clear guidance on what vision assessments are needed before and during treatment with ethambutol, with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, British National Formulary and British Thoracic Society offering different guidance. We aimed to assess how vision is routinely tested in patients treated with ethambutol in TB services across England.
METHODS METHODS
An online survey developed by Public Health England was sent to all TB services in England in 2018 to assess current practice and inform the development of best practice recommendations for visual assessment of patients treated with ethambutol for TB.
RESULTS RESULTS
Sixty-six TB professionals from across England responded, a response rate of 54%. The results showed variations in practice, including when to omit ethambutol from treatment, the timing and frequency of visual assessment, the type of visual assessment, referral processes and management of visual changes.
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
This national survey highlights the need for clear guidelines on the testing of vision for patients taking ethambutol at recommended doses, before and during treatment. We suggest a pragmatic approach to visual assessment to reduce variation in practice, proposing a stepwise pathway for patients on standard TB treatment for local adaptation.

Identifiants

pubmed: 37349548
doi: 10.1038/s41433-023-02643-4
pii: 10.1038/s41433-023-02643-4
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Informations de copyright

© 2023. The Author(s).

Références

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Auteurs

Sally MacVinish (S)

UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.

David McMaster (D)

Imperial College London, London, UK. david.mcmaster@doctors.org.uk.

Tanya Moledina (T)

UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.

Surinder K Tamne (SK)

UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.

Jane Ashworth (J)

Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, UK.

Sarah R Anderson (SR)

UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.

Classifications MeSH