title: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among previously treated patients in the Philippines.
abstract: METHODS
  Prior treatment has been associated with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in many settings. The Philippines ranks fifth among 27 priority countries for MDR-TB.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate of MDR-TB among previously treated patients referred for MDR screening and management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study of the rate of MDR-TB among 4705 previously treated patients screened from 2003 to 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MDR-TB was present in 76% of 2438 screened patients who had positive cultures. The proportion of patients with MDR-TB was the same among patients referred from public or DOTS facilities and private or non-DOTS facilities. MDR-TB occurred most frequently among patients who failed treatment with the Category 2 regimen (97%), those who did not demonstrate culture conversion after 3 months of Category 2 treatment (91%), and Category 1 failures (83%). MDR-TB rates were respectively 78% and 57% for Category 2 relapse and return after default (RAD), and respectively 33% and 22% for Category 1 relapse and RAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MDR-TB is frequent among previously treated patients in the Philippines. Screening with culture and drug susceptibility testing should be considered for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Disease Foundation, Makati Medical Center, Makati, Philippines. tarcelasg@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Gler
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Macalintal
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guilatco
authors.forename: M I D
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Quelapio
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Tupasi
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents