title: 4-, 5- and 6-month regimens containing isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and streptomycin for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis under program conditions in Hong Kong.
abstract: METHODS
  Ten full time urban government chest clinics in Hong Kong.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of 4-, 5- and 6-month fully supervised thrice-weekly regimens containing 4 months of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and streptomycin followed by nil, 1 or 2 months of isoniazid and rifampicin for the treatment of smear-negative culture-negative, smear-negative culture-positive and smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of the 3 antituberculosis treatment regimens given under program conditions during a 6-month period in 1983.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1616 patients assessed, 953 (59%) completed their treatment strictly as planned, 443 (27%) had their treatment prolonged, 107 (7%) had their treatment modified and 113 (7%) defaulted or did not complete their treatment as planned. There were 2 treatment failures at the end of chemotherapy. At 60 months of follow-up, 67 patients died, 2 from the sequelae of tuberculosis. Of 1287 patients assessable up to 60 months, a total of 47 (3.7%) patients relapsed and were eventually treated successfully. 11 (20%) relapses occurred among the 55 patients who had defaulted and did not complete treatment as planned.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effectiveness of the 3 treatment regimens depended very much on the patient's adherence to treatment. The necessity of prolongation of treatment is not known and requires further assessment.
authors.affiliation: Tuberculosis and Chest Service, Wanchai Chest Clinic.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin; D013307:Streptomycin