Short-course chemotherapy of tuberculosis: the harsh realities.
Recent studies have indicated that it is possible to successfully treat even far-advanced tuberculosis with a variety of chemotherapy regimens ranging in duration from 4.5 to 9 months. Furthermore, much or all of some regimens can be given twice-weekly. However, three major barriers remain to widespread success: (1) Noncompliance with prescribed treatment; (2) increasing prevalence of drug resistance; and, (3) sorely limited resources in impoverished segments of the third world. While noncompliance is responsible for a greater number of treatment failures, increasing levels of drug resistance pose a greater long-term threat due to a protracted carrier-vector state, soaring costs for adequate drug regimens, and--ultimately--the conversion of an imminently treatable infection into an unmanageable scourge--the resurrection of the "White Plague."
Iseman
M D
MD
National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, CO 80206.
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents