Active pulmonary tuberculosis: Role for amikacin in early treatment

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of amikacin on sputum conversion during initial sputum smear positive tuberculosis treatment. Material and methodsSingle-center observational cohort study (2012–2013) evaluating time to sputum smear conversion with standard treatment (ST) versus standard treatment+amikacin (IV 15mg/kg/day) for seven days (STamK). ResultsForty-five patients were included. Median time to smear negative samples was 26.5 days (14–56) for the 30 (66.7%) patients included in the ST group and 48 days (19.5–69.5) for the 15 patients (33.3%) included in the STamK group (P=0.76). Time to negative culture was only known for 27 patients (61.4%): 47.5 days (26–58) for 18 patients in the ST group and 40 days (14–77) for nine patients in the STamK group. ConclusionDespite our small sample size, the addition of amikacin in active tuberculosis treatment did not seem to impact time to smear conversion or period of contagiousness.