OPERATIONAL EVALUATION OF TREATMENT FOR TUBERCULOSIS - RESULTS OF A STANDARD 12-MONTH REGIMEN IN PERU

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Abstract
To measure the operational effectiveness of treatment for tuberculosis in Peru, the outcome of a 12-mo. treatment regimen was evaluated in 2510 patients who had tuberculosis diagnosed in 1980. All patients had acid-fast bacilli detected by sputum microscopy and were to be treated with isoniazid, streptomycin and thiacetazone daily for 2 mo. followed by either isoniazid and streptomycin twice a week or isoniazid and thiacetazone daily. Only 47% had a favorable outcome, 41% abandoned treatment, 6% failed treatment, 4% died and 2% relapsed. Of 1483 patients who completed treatment, 79% had a favorable outcome; 21% had an unfavorable result (treatment failure, relapse or death). Failure to complete treatment is the major reason for the low rate of success but the effectiveness of the regimen in patients who complete treatment is not optimal.