[Characteristics and treatment of tuberculosis patients in Dekkerswald, 2000-2005].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the patient population in Dekkerswald, Nijmegen, one of two tuberculosis (TB) centres in The Netherlands.


METHODS
Descriptive, retrospective study.


METHODS
Examination of medical records for all TB patients hospitalised between 2000 and 2005, including demographic, social, clinical and follow-up data.


RESULTS
Data from 166 patients were analysed. Tertiary referrals accounted for 98% of all hospitalisations. Most patients (68%) were referred for clinical reasons, and 32% were referred for social reasons. Drug resistance was encountered in 23% of patients; 9% had multidrug-resistant TB. Ten percent of patients were seropositive for HIV. Toxicity and side-effects of treatment often led to changes in treatment (40%). Patients had pulmonary TB (59%), extrapulmonary TB (23%) or both (17%). Overall, 141 patients (85%) completed treatment. The TB-related mortality rate was 5%.


CONCLUSIONS
In Dekkerswald, there is a selected patient population that is characterised by drug-resistance, comorbidity, side-effects, extrapulmonary disease and social issues. Due to the low prevalence of TB in The Netherlands, knowledge and experience regarding complex types of TB are limited. Centralisation of patient care is important to preserve and optimise this expertise.
Magis-Escurra
C
C
Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, Universitair Longcentrum Nijmegen, afd. Longziekten, locatie Dekkerswald, Nijmeegsebaan 31, 6561 KE Groesbeek. c.magis-escurraibanez@ulc.umcn.nl
Miedema
J R
JR
de Lange
W C M
WC
van Ingen
J
J
Dekhuijzen
P N R
PN
Boeree
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant
D000995:Antitubercular Agents