Ethambutol plus isoniazid compared with rifampicin plus isoniazid in antituberculosis continuation treatment.
Patients with bacteriologically positive pulmonary tuberculosis were treated initially for an average of three and a half months with isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol and then a total of one year's treatment was completed with either rifampicin plus isoniazid (R+I) or with ethambutol plus isoniazid (E+I). 63 patients in each continuation group were followed up for at least one year, and no relapses occurred. Continuation treatment with E+I was as effective and acceptable as that with R+I and was much less costly.
D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004977:Ethambutol; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin