Early Treatment Outcomes in Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

In South Africa, 64% of patients with XDR-TB survived ≥3 months beyond treatment initiation; early outcomes did not differ significantly by HIV status.

Previous reports from South Africa indicated that almost all patients with extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB) were HIV infected and that the disease was almost always fatal (JW Infect Dis Nov 8 2006). Now, a new study adds to our understanding of XDR-TB in this setting.

Researchers at four clinics in South Africa reviewed the medical records of all patients who had culture-confirmed XDR-TB between August 2002 and February 2008. Of the 195 patients identified, 21 died before treatment was initiated; the remainder were admitted for individualized treatment (with a median of 7 drugs per regimen) until conversion of sputum smear. About half the treated patients (47%) were HIV positive. Median follow-up time was 6.9 months.

The ove…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Early Treatment Outcomes in Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

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Reviewing Author