Is oral intermittent initial phase anti-tuberculosis treatment associated with higher mortality in high HIV-prevalent areas in sub-Saharan Africa?
Harries, AD;
Gausi, FK;
Kwanjana, JH;
Nyirenda, TE;
Salaniponi, FM;
(2001)
Is oral intermittent initial phase anti-tuberculosis treatment associated with higher mortality in high HIV-prevalent areas in sub-Saharan Africa?
The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease, 5 (5).
pp. 483-485.
ISSN 1027-3719
https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/8879
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https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/8879
Abstract
The Malawi Tuberculosis Programme has evaluated an oral ambulatory treatment regimen (2R3H3Z3E3/6HE) in five districts, and observed a mortality rate of 23% in 2671 new patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Three studies were performed comparing treatment outcomes between patients treated with 2R3H3Z3E3/6HE and 2SRHZ/6HE using historical data in the same districts and concurrent data in different districts. Using historical comparisons, mortality was significantly higher with 2R3H3Z3E3/6HE than 2SRHZ/6HE. Using concurrent comparisons, mortality was similar, although there was a higher death rate in the first month with the intermittent regimen. The intermittent regimen may be inferior to the established regimen.
