A Phase 3 trial tested starting tuberculosis drugs right away versus waiting for test results in adults with HIV and sepsis. The study took place in four hospitals in Tanzania and Uganda and included 395 people. Participants received standard TB medicines like rifampicin and ceftriaxone. Some also got higher doses of these drugs.
The main finding was that starting treatment immediately did not reduce death rates compared to waiting for diagnosis. This held true whether doctors used standard doses or higher doses. Overall, 25 percent of patients died within 28 days regardless of the treatment plan.
However, a specific subgroup analysis showed a different result. Among patients who were later confirmed to have tuberculosis, those who received immediate standard-dose treatment had lower death rates. Higher doses did not show a clear benefit for this group. No significant safety differences were found between the treatment groups.