Managing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in hospitalised patients: a review of treatment outcomes

Abstract

The admission trends, management practices, and interim treatment outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients admitted in a specialised referral hospital in Johannesburg were reviewed. Across-sectional study with both descriptive and analytic features was done on 237 MDR-TB patients hospitalised from the beginning of June 1998 to the end of May 2003. Data were analysed using SPSS version 12 software!Main interim outcome measures after in-patient care were protracted hospitalisation, transfer out, absconding, and death rates. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors for poor treatment outcomes. The allocated hospital beds were insufficient for patients meeting the in-patient care criteria. Nearly half of the patients were hospitalised on suspicion of MDR-TB based on contact history and persistency of positive sputum despite treatment for drug-susceptible TB. With regard to the period between confirmation of MDR-TB and admission, patients with primary ...