Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: response to treatment.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We investigated clinical response and mortality rates in 18 HIV- negative patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. METHOD: We obtained detailed data from our hospital on patients with multidrug - resistant tuberculosis defined as tuberculosis resistant at least to isoniazid and rifampicin. Therapeutic responses were evaluated by both microbiologic and clinical data. RESULTS: From January 1985 to December 1990, 18 HIV-negative patients were identified and treated. One patient committed suicide 1 week after receiving antituberculous drugs. Of the 17 patients, 10 (58.8%) had clinical response as well as microbiologic response, 6 (35.3%) were persisters during 24 months of follow-up, and 1 (5.8%) died after 30 months of treatment. The median follow-up for the patients was 87 weeks (range, 24 to 212). For those who responded well, there was no relapse.