title: Is oral intermittent initial phase anti-tuberculosis treatment associated with higher mortality in high HIV-prevalent areas in sub-Saharan Africa?
abstract: The Malawi Tuberculosis Programme has evaluated an oral ambulatory treatment regimen (2R3H3Z3E3/6HE) in five districts, and observed a mortality rate of 23% in 2671 new patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Three studies were performed comparing treatment outcomes between patients treated with 2R3H3Z3E3/6HE and 2SRHZ/6HE using historical data in the same districts and concurrent data in different districts. Using historical comparisons, mortality was significantly higher with 2R3H3Z3E3/6HE than 2SRHZ/6HE. Using concurrent comparisons, mortality was similar, although there was a higher death rate in the first month with the intermittent regimen. The intermittent regimen may be inferior to the established regimen.
authors.affiliation: National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi. adharries@malawi.net
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Gausi
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kwanjana
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Nyirenda
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salaniponi
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D010507:Periodicity; D012306:Risk; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents