METHODS: It was a prospective observational study, which was done in the CAT II treatment failure, LPA proven MDR TB patients, above the age of 18 years, who were referred to DOTS Plus center for treatment. The study was approved by the hospital ethics committee and patient consent was obtained before inclusion.
RESULTS: We observed culture conversion in 63.04% and ADR in 96.5%, default in 15.65%, and death in11.3% cases. The factors which influenced outcome included low body weight, long duration of illness cavitatory disease and indulgence in both tobacco & alcohol. The radiological favorable response strongly and significantly correlated with the bacteriological and clinical response during the IP.
CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the efficacy can be further augmented by reducing default and controlling deaths which accounts for substantial numbers and occur mostly during IP.