[Treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis]

Nihon Rinsho. 2011 Aug;69(8):1394-9.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Tuberculosis can be cured by 6 months chemotherapy, consisting of isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RFP), pyrazinamide (PZA), and ethambutol (EB). However, the patients with tuberculosis caused by multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) bacilli, defined as resistance to at least INH and RFP, poorly respond to this resimen. To work out the strategy for the elimination of MDR-TB, chemotherapy resume must be changed from standard resume to special one, that are made from effective and stronger at least three anti-tuberculosis drugs. The duration of treatment will be 18-24 months usually. If decreasing of tuberculosis bacilli in sputum is failed under new effective resume, surgical treatment may be indicated. Treatment results of MDR-TB are not satisfactory. But we need to not to make new MDR-TB cases.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / drug therapy*