title: Outcome of pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a 6-yr follow-up study.
abstract: A retrospective study was performed to determine factors associated with the outcome of pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Taipei, Taiwan. All patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary MDR-TB in a referral centre from 1992-1996 were enrolled and their outcome over the subsequent 6 yrs was determined. A total of 299 patients were identified, comprising 215 (71.9%) males and 84 (28.1%) females with a mean age of 47.3 yrs. The patients received a mean of 3.7 effective drugs. Out of the 299 patients, 153 (51.2%) were cured, 31 (10.4%) failed, 28 (9.4%) died and 87 (29.1%) defaulted. Of the 125 patients receiving second-line drugs with ofloxacin, 74 (59.2%) were cured. Those who received ofloxacin had a lower risk of relapse than those receiving only first-line drugs (hazard ratio (HR) 0.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03-0.81) and a lower risk of TB-related death than those receiving second-line drugs but not ofloxacin (adjusted HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.31-0.82). In conclusion, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients who received ofloxacin were more likely to be cured, and were less likely to die, fail or relapse. The utility of new-generation fluoroquinolones, such as moxifloxacin, in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis needs to be evaluated. Default from treatment is a major challenge in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 68 Boulevard Saint-Michel 75006, Paris, France.
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Enarson
authors.forename: M-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: K-J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: R-M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: C-J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suo
authors.forename: T-P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D015242:Ofloxacin