title: Treatment experience of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Florida, 1994-1997.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical characteristics and results of patients with diagnoses of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the state of Florida.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of all patients (n = 81) with diagnoses of MDR-TB in Florida between January 1, 1994, and July 31, 1997.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average number of resistant drugs was 4.8 (range, 2 to 11). Of 81 patients, 46 patients (57%) completed adequate therapy, 26 patients (32%) died, and 9 patients (11%) never completed a satisfactory course of treatment. Patients who received at least part of their therapy at A. G. Holley State Hospital, a specialized tuberculosis (TB) treatment center, had significantly higher treatment completion rates (79%) than those treated as outpatients alone (48% treatment completion rate, p < 0.001), even after the exclusion of patients who were acutely ill and died within 2 months of diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Florida, a specialized TB care program for MDR-TB, including at least partial inpatient therapy, yielded higher treatment completion rates compared to outpatient treatment alone.
authors.affiliation: A.G. Holley State Tuberculosis Hospital, Lantana, FL 33462, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lauzardo
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Hollender
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pitchenik
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ashkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy*