Analysis of treatment outcomes for destructive pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with multiple drug resistance of M. tuberculosis

Abstract

The objective of the study: to analyze treatment outcomes in patients with pulmonary destructive MDR tuberculosis who completed the intensive phase of treatment and had healed or persisting cavities.

Subjects and methods. Treatment outcomes were retrospectively analyzed in 191 patients suffering from destructive pulmonary MDR tuberculosis who underwent the intensive phase of chemotherapy in in-patient settings in 2009-2012 and 2013-2015 (treated by different regime ns);  in each of those cohorts, groups were formed depending on persistence/healing of destruction (cavities) during the intensive phase of chemotherapy:  (CV-) ‒ the destruction healed, (CV+) – the destruction persisted.

Results. In 24 months, treatment was found to be effective only in 19/68 (27.9%) in the (CV+) group versus 31/40 (77.5%) in the (CV-) group, p < 0.05 (cohort 2009-2012); 17/42 (40.5%) versus 29/41 (70.7%), respectively, p < 0.05 (2013-2015 cohort). Within 48 months, treatment outcomes were as follows: clinical cure in the (CV+) group was 38.2% (26/68 people), and in the (CV-) group – 72.7% (29/40 people), p < 0.05 (2009- 2012) and 23/42 (54.7%) and 33/41 (80.5%), respectively, p < 0.05 (2013-2015 cohort).

Conclusion. Considering the above, when assessing treatment in the intensive phase of chemotherapy in destructive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, it is necessary to take into account the rate of cavity healing but not being limited to sputum conversion. Patients with persisting cavities should not be transferred to the continuation phase, the surgery or collapse treatment should be considered for such patients.