Shortening treatment in adults with noncavitary tuberculosis and 2-month culture conversion.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Cavitary disease and delayed culture conversion have been associated with relapse. Combining patient characteristics and measures of bacteriologic response might allow treatment shortening with current drugs in some patients.

Objectives

To assess whether treatment could be shortened from 6 to 4 months in patients with noncavitary tuberculosis whose sputum cultures converted to negative after 2 months.

Methods

This study was a randomized, open-label equivalence trial. HIV-uninfected adults with noncavitary tuberculosis were treated daily with isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol for 2 months, followed by 2 months of isoniazid and rifampin. After 4 months, patients with drug-susceptible TB whose sputum cultures on solid media were negative after 8

SUBMITTER: Johnson JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2742745 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature