Treatment Results of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in the Aegean Region

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate 109 rifampicin-resistant or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients who are treated in Izmir Chest Diseases MDR Tuberculosis Centre.MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patient profile, side effects, treatment success, and mortality of rifampicin-resistant or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients who were followed up and treated in our hospital's tuberculosis service between 2010 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS: Of the rifampicin-resistant or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients, 83 (76.1%) were male and the mean age was 46.3 +/- 16.3 years. Of the cases 13 (11.9%) had rifampicin resistance without isoniazid. Since 5 out of 109 patients diagnosed with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis emigrated to other countries, the treatment results of 104 patients were evaluated. As a result of the treatment, the cure was achieved in 81 (77.9%) patients and treatment was completed in 13 (12.5%). Treatment success was found as 90.4%. No patient experienced recurrence. The mortality rate was determined as 9.6%. The cure rate of patients treated with >= 6 drugs (90.9%) was statisti-cally significantly (P = .029) higher than the group treated with <= 5 drugs (71.8%).CONCLUSIONS: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment is a long-term, financially burdensome practice that may cause serious side effects and complications, and it requires strict discipline. The fight against tuberculosis can be successful with tuberculosis control pro-grams that are pursued with determination.