title: High effectiveness of a 12-month regimen for MDR-TB patients in Cameroon.
abstract: METHODS
  Two specialised multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment units in Cameroon.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess outcome and adverse drug events with a standardised 12-month regimen for MDR-TB among second-line drug naïve patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study of MDR-TB patients treated with a standardised 12-month regimen including gatifloxacin, clofazimine, prothionamide, ethambutol and pyrazinamide throughout, supplemented by kanamycin and isoniazid during an intensive phase of a minimum of 4 months. Progress was monitored monthly until treatment completion and twice over one year after treatment cessation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-seven potentially eligible patients were lost and never treated due to delayed availability of test results. Among the 150/236 eligible and treated patients, 134 (89%) successfully completed treatment, 10 died, 5 were lost, 1 failed and none relapsed. The patients' mean age was 33.7 years (range 17-68), 73 (49%) were females, 120 (80%) had failed on previous treatment, 30 (20%) were human immunodeficiency virus seropositive, 62 (43%) had a body mass index <18.5 kg/m(2) and 41 (27%) had radiographic involvement of five or six of the six lung zones. The most important adverse drug event was hearing impairment, which occurred in 46 of 106 (43%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results add further evidence for the usefulness of shorter, standardised regimens among patients without second-line drug resistance.
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Kuaban
authors: Independent consultant, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Noeske
authors: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France; Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: H L
authors: HL
authors: Rieder
authors: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Aït-Khaled
authors: National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Abena Foe
authors: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Trébucq
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002163:Cameroon; D002991:Clofazimine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003906:Developing Countries; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077734:Gatifloxacin; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007612:Kanamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011515:Prothionamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D007612:Kanamycin; D011515:Prothionamide; D004977:Ethambutol; D002991:Clofazimine; D000077734:Gatifloxacin; D007538:Isoniazid