Feasibility and cost-effectiveness of treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a cohort study in the Philippines.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is an important global health problem, and a control strategy known as DOTS-Plus has existed since 1999. However, evidence regarding the feasibility, effectiveness, cost, and cost-effectiveness of DOTS-Plus is still limited.

Methodology/principal findings

We evaluated the feasibility, effectiveness, cost, and cost-effectiveness of a DOTS-Plus pilot project established at Makati Medical Center in Manila, the Philippines, in 1999. Patients with MDR-TB are treated with regimens, including first- and second-line drugs, tailored to their drug susceptibility pattern (i.e., individualised treatment). We considered the cohort enrolled between April 1999 and March 2002. During this three-year period, 118 patients were enrolled in t

SUBMITTER: Tupasi TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1564168 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature