Aggressive Regimens Reduce Risk of Recurrence After Successful Treatment of MDR-TB.

Background: We sought to determine whether treatment with a "long aggressive regimen" was associated with lower rates of relapse among patients successfully treated for pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Tomsk, Russia.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients that initiated MDR-TB treatment with individualized regimens between September 2000 and November 2004, and were successfully treated. Patients were classified as having received "aggressive regimens" if their intensive phase consisted of at least 5 likely effective drugs (including a second-line injectable and a fluoroquinolone) used for at least 6 months post culture conversion, and their continuation phase included at least 4 likely effective drugs.

Low rates of recurrence after successful treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Tomsk, Russia.

Setting: Tomsk, Russia, where multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is prevalent.

Objectives: To report rates of recurrence following successful treatment of MDR-TB in a program providing individualized treatment regimens designed according to the current global standard of care.

Design: A retrospective cohort study of 408 adults successfully treated for pulmonary MDR-TB from 10 September 2000 to 1 November 2004, and followed for up to 6 years post-treatment.