Treatment Outcomes for Adolescents With Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Lima, Peru.

Treatment outcomes for adolescents with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis are rarely reported and, to date, have been poor. Among 90 adolescents from Lima, Peru, 68 (75.6%) achieved cure or completion of treatment.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment failure detection depends on monitoring interval and microbiological method.

Debate persists about monitoring method (culture or smear) and interval (monthly or less frequently) during treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). We analysed existing data and estimated the effect of monitoring strategies on timing of failure detection.We identified studies reporting microbiological response to MDR-TB treatment and solicited individual patient data from authors.

Evaluation of high-dose rifampin in patients with new, smear-positive tuberculosis (HIRIF): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Evidence has existed for decades that higher doses of rifampin may be more effective, but potentially more toxic, than standard doses used in tuberculosis treatment. Whether increased doses of rifampin could safely shorten treatment remains an open question.

Methods/design: The HIRIF study is a phase II randomized trial comparing rifampin doses of 20 and 15 mg/kg/day to the standard 10 mg/kg/day for the first 2 months of tuberculosis treatment.

Treatment outcomes of childhood tuberculous meningitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Tuberculous meningitis disproportionately affects young children. We aimed to characterise treatment outcomes for this deadliest and most debilitating form of tuberculosis.

Methods: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of childhood tuberculous meningitis studies published up to Oct 12, 2012.