Treatment outcome of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis with modified DOTS-plus strategy: A 2 years' experience

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a global health problem with notoriously difficult and challenging treatment. This study determined treatment outcome in patients of MDR-TB with modified DOTS-Plus strategy. METHODS: Ninety-eight consecutive MDR-TB patients treated with standardized regimen according to modified DOTS-Plus strategy aligned to the existing national DOTS-Plus guidelines with relevant modifications proposed by Chennai consensus were analyzed prospectively. Treatment included monthly follow-up with clinical, radiological, and bacteriological assessment (sputum smear advised monthly till conversion then quarterly; culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis at 0, 4, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months), ensuring adherence, intense health education, and monitoring of adverse events (AEs). Patients' outcome was considered as cure when at least two of the last three cultures (all three or last two) were negative and as failure when the same were positive. RESULTS: Favorable and unfavorable outcomes in this cohort were reported to be 71/98 (72.4%) and 27/98 (27.6%) (failure - 10 [10.2%], default - 7 [7.1%], and expiry - 10 [10.2%]), respectively. Sputum smear and culture conversion rate were 75/81 (92.5%) and 71/81 (87.7%), respectively. Major AEs were experienced in only 17.4% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: MDR-TB can be cured successfully with modified DOTS-Plus strategy and requires much effort from both the patients and health-care workers. It can be an alternative model for treating MDR-TB patients in private sector.