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The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jan 2014Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is a neglected global public health problem. Short treatment courses with rifampicin-containing anti-TB drugs given daily for six-months cure... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is a neglected global public health problem. Short treatment courses with rifampicin-containing anti-TB drugs given daily for six-months cure over 90% of infected children, but poor adherence reduces treatment success. Intermittent, short-course anti-TB regimens, given two or three times a week under direct observation, are associated with higher adherence in observational studies; but how they compare with daily treatment in relation to cure is unclear. Current international and national recommendations differ on use of intermittent regimens to treat TB in children.
OBJECTIVES
To compare the efficacy and safety of intermittent, short-course anti-TB regimens (twice- or thrice-weekly) with daily short-course anti-TB regimens in treating childhood TB.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Infectious Disease Group Specialized Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, clinical trials registries, regional databases, conference proceedings, and references without language restrictions up to 30 May 2013; and contacted experts for relevant published, unpublished, and on-going trials.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of children aged 15 years or younger, diagnosed with TB (according to the World Health Organization diagnostic categories 1, 2, or 3), who were treated with intermittent twice-weekly or thrice-weekly, short-course anti-TB regimens compared to daily short-course anti-TB treatment regimens. All regimens had to contain rifampicin for at least the first two months.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
The review authors independently screened and selected trials, assessed risk of bias, and extracted data. We sought clarifications from trial authors. We pooled relative risks with their 95% confidence intervals and used a random-effects model where there was significant heterogeneity. We assessed overall evidence-quality using the GRADE approach.
MAIN RESULTS
We included four trials published between 1996 to 2000 that randomized 563 children (465 evaluable) aged five months to 15 years to intermittent twice-weekly versus daily anti-TB treatment. Two trials were from India, one from South Africa, and one from Turkey. All trials used rifampicin and isoniazid, three trials used pyrazinamide, and one trial used streptomycin. The drug combination, and the duration of intermittent and daily treatments differed between trials, and no trials used drug combinations and schedules currently recommended for childhood TB. No trial reported if any child was HIV-positive.In comparisons of twice-weekly versus daily anti-TB treatment regimens, the trials did not detect differences in the number of patients cured, but trials were small, and the comparator regimens were not standard (four trials, 465 children; very low quality evidence). Trials were underpowered to provide estimates for death (two trials, 213 participants, very low quality evidence), relapse (one trial, 214 participants,very low quality evidence), and treatment limiting adverse events (four trials, 441 participants, very low quality evidence)Reported adherence to treatment was similar (87% versus 84%; four trials, 458 children, very low quality evidence)We did not find trials comparing the commonly used thrice-weekly anti-TB short-course regimen with the daily treatment regimen.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Trials conducted to date are insufficient to support or refute the use of intermittent twice- or thrice-weekly, short-course treatment regimens over daily short-course treatment in children with TB. Further randomized trials conducted in high TB-transmission settings will help inform policy and practice.
Topics: Adolescent; Antitubercular Agents; Child; Drug Administration Schedule; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 24470141
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007953.pub2 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jul 2013Preventing active tuberculosis (TB) from developing in people with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is important for global TB control. Isoniazid (INH) for six to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Preventing active tuberculosis (TB) from developing in people with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is important for global TB control. Isoniazid (INH) for six to nine months has 60% to 90% protective efficacy, but the treatment period is long, liver toxicity is a problem, and completion rates outside trials are only around 50%. Rifampicin or rifamycin-combination treatments are shorter and may result in higher completion rates.
OBJECTIVES
To compare the effects of rifampicin monotherapy or rifamycin-combination therapy versus INH monotherapy for preventing active TB in HIV-negative people at risk of developing active TB.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Infectious Disease Group Specialized Register; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE; EMBASE; LILACS; clinical trials registries; regional databases; conference proceedings; and references, without language restrictions to December 2012; and contacted experts for relevant published, unpublished and ongoing trials.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of HIV-negative adults and children at risk of active TB treated with rifampicin, or rifamycin-combination therapy with or without INH (any dose or duration), compared with INH for six to nine months.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
At least two authors independently screened and selected trials, assessed risk of bias, and extracted data. We sought clarifications from trial authors. We pooled relative risks (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using a random-effects model if heterogeneity was significant. We assessed overall evidence quality using the GRADE approach.
MAIN RESULTS
Ten trials are included, enrolling 10,717 adults and children, mostly HIV-negative (2% HIV-positive), with a follow-up period ranging from two to five years. Rifampicin (three/four months) vs. INH (six months)Five trials published between 1992 to 2012 compared these regimens, and one small 1992 trial in adults with silicosis did not detect a difference in the occurrence of TB over five years of follow up (one trial, 312 participants; very low quality evidence). However, more people in these trials completed the shorter course (RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.30; five trials, 1768 participants; moderate quality evidence). Treatment-limiting adverse events were not significantly different (four trials, 1674 participants; very low quality evidence), but rifampicin caused less hepatotoxicity (RR 0.12, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.30; four trials, 1674 participants; moderate quality evidence). Rifampicin plus INH (three months) vs. INH (six months)The 1992 silicosis trial did not detect a difference between people receiving rifampicin plus INH compared to INH alone for occurrence of active TB (one trial, 328 participants; very low quality evidence). Adherence was similar in this and a 1998 trial in people without silicosis (two trials, 524 participants; high quality evidence). No difference was detected for treatment-limiting adverse events (two trials, 536 participants; low quality evidence), or hepatotoxicity (two trials, 536 participants; low quality evidence). Rifampicin plus pyrazinamide (two months) vs. INH (six months)Three small trials published in 1994, 2003, and 2005 compared these two regimens, and two reported a low occurrence of active TB, with no statistically significant differences between treatment regimens (two trials, 176 participants; very low quality evidence) though, apart from one child from the 1994 trial, these data on active TB were from the 2003 trial in adults with silicosis. Adherence with both regimens was low with no statistically significant differences (four trials, 700 participants; very low quality evidence). However, people receiving rifampicin plus pyrazinamide had more treatment-limiting adverse events (RR 3.61, 95% CI 1.82 to 7.19; two trials, 368 participants; high quality evidence), and hepatotoxicity (RR 4.59, 95% 2.14 to 9.85; three trials, 540 participants; moderate quality evidence). Weekly, directly-observed rifapentine plus INH (three months) vs. daily, self-administered INH (nine months)A large trial conducted from 2001 to 2008 among close contacts of TB in the USA, Canada, Brazil and Spain found directly observed weekly treatment to be non-inferior to nine months self-administered INH for the incidence of active TB (0.2% vs 0.4%, RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.07, one trial, 7731 participants; moderate quality evidence). The directly-observed, shorter regimen had higher treatment completion (82% vs 69%, RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.22, moderate quality evidence), and less hepatotoxicity (0.4% versus 2.4%; RR 0.16, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.27; high quality evidence), though treatment-limiting adverse events were more frequent (4.9% versus 3.7%; RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.64 moderate quality evidence)
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Trials to date of shortened prophylactic regimens using rifampicin alone have not demonstrated higher rates of active TB when compared to longer regimens with INH. Treatment completion is probably higher and adverse events may be fewer with shorter rifampicin regimens. Shortened regimens of rifampicin with INH may offer no advantage over longer INH regimens. Rifampicin combined with pyrazinamide is associated with more adverse events. A weekly regimen of rifapentine plus INH has higher completion rates, and less liver toxicity, though treatment discontinuation due to adverse events is probably more likely than with INH.
Topics: Adult; Antibiotics, Antitubercular; Child; Directly Observed Therapy; Drug Administration Schedule; HIV Seronegativity; Humans; Isoniazid; Latent Tuberculosis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Rifabutin; Rifampin; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 23828580
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007545.pub2 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jun 2013Currently the World Health Organization only recommend fluoroquinolones for people with presumed drug-sensitive tuberculosis (TB) who cannot take standard first-line... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Currently the World Health Organization only recommend fluoroquinolones for people with presumed drug-sensitive tuberculosis (TB) who cannot take standard first-line drugs. However, use of fluoroquinolones could shorten the length of treatment and improve other outcomes in these people. This review summarises the effects of fluoroquinolones in first-line regimens in people with presumed drug-sensitive TB.
OBJECTIVES
To assess fluoroquinolones as substitute or additional components in antituberculous drug regimens for drug-sensitive TB.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register; CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 1); MEDLINE; EMBASE; LILACS; Science Citation Index; Databases of Russian Publications; and metaRegister of Controlled Trials up to 6 March 2013.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of antituberculous regimens based on rifampicin and pyrazinamide and containing fluoroquinolones in people with presumed drug-sensitive pulmonary TB.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors independently applied inclusion criteria, assessed the risk of bias in the trials, and extracted data. We used the risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous data and the fixed-effect model when it was appropriate to combine data and no heterogeneity was present. We assessed the quality of evidence using the GRADE approach.
MAIN RESULTS
We identified five RCTs (1330 participants) that met the inclusion criteria. None of the included trials examined regimens of less than six months duration. Fluoroquinolones added to standard regimensA single trial (174 participants) added levofloxacin to the standard first-line regimen. Relapse and treatment failure were not reported. For death, sputum conversion, and adverse events we are uncertain if there is an effect (one trial, 174 participants, very low quality evidence for all three outcomes). Fluoroquinolones substituted for ethambutol in standard regimens Three trials (723 participants) substituted ethambutol with moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, and ofloxacin into the standard first-line regimen. For relapse, we are uncertain if there is an effect (one trial, 170 participants, very low quality evidence). No trials reported on treatment failure. For death, sputum culture conversion at eight weeks, or serious adverse events we do not know if there was an effect (three trials, 723 participants, very low quality evidence for all three outcomes). Fluoroquinolones substituted for isoniazid in standard regimens A single trial (433 participants) substituted moxifloxacin for isoniazid. Treatment failure and relapse were not reported. For death, sputum culture conversion, or serious adverse events the substitution may have little or no difference (one trial, 433 participants, low quality evidence for all three outcomes). Fluoroquinolines in four month regimensSix trials are currently in progress testing shorter regimens with fluoroquinolones.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Ofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gatifloxacin have been tested in RCTs of standard first-line regimens based on rifampicin and pyrazinamide for treating drug-sensitive TB. There is insufficient evidence to be clear whether addition or substitution of fluoroquinolones for ethambutol or isoniazid in the first-line regimen reduces death or relapse, or increases culture conversion at eight weeks. Much larger trials with fluoroquinolones in short course regimens of four months are currently in progress.
Topics: Antitubercular Agents; Ciprofloxacin; Drug Substitution; Fluoroquinolones; Humans; Levofloxacin; Ofloxacin; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 23744519
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004795.pub4 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Feb 2013In an effort to update and clarify policies on tuberculosis drug susceptibility testing (DST), the World Health Organization (WHO) commissioned a systematic review... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
In an effort to update and clarify policies on tuberculosis drug susceptibility testing (DST), the World Health Organization (WHO) commissioned a systematic review evaluating WHO-endorsed diagnostic tests. We report the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility of phenotypic DST for first-line and second-line antituberculosis drugs. This review provides support for recommended critical concentrations for isoniazid and rifampin in commercial broth-based systems. Further studies are needed to evaluate critical concentrations for ethambutol and streptomycin that accurately detect susceptibility to these drugs. Evidence is limited on the performance of DST for pyrazinamide and second-line drugs.
Topics: Antitubercular Agents; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tuberculosis; World Health Organization
PubMed: 23152548
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02724-12 -
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Oct 2011Standard culture-based testing of the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to pyrazinamide is difficult to perform. This systematic review with meta-analyses... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Standard culture-based testing of the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to pyrazinamide is difficult to perform. This systematic review with meta-analyses evaluated the roles of molecular assays targeting pncA and of pyrazinamidase assays. PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant publications in English. Sensitivity and specificity were estimated in bivariate random-effects models. Of 128 articles identified, 73 sets of data involving culture isolates were initially included in meta-analyses. Summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity, respectively, were 87% and 93% for PCR-DNA sequencing (n = 29), 75% and 95% for PCR-single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) (n = 5), 96% and 97% for a mixture of other molecular assays (n = 6), and 89% and 97% for pyrazinamidase assays using the Wayne method (n = 33). The median prevalence (range) of pyrazinamide resistance was 51% (31% to 89%) in multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates and 5% (0% to 9%) in non-multidrug-resistant isolates. Excluding studies with possibly considerable false resistance in the reference assay gave the following estimates of sensitivity and specificity, respectively: 92% and 93% for PCR-DNA sequencing (n = 20), 98% and 96% for other molecular assays (n = 5), and 91% and 97% for the Wayne assay (n = 27). The Wayne assay had significant funnel plot asymmetry, so the test performance might have been overestimated. Considering the prevalence of pyrazinamide resistance in different clinical settings, PCR-DNA sequencing, and possibly other molecular assays targeting pncA, can detect pyrazinamide resistance in multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates, with predictive values largely exceeding 90%, and rule out pyrazinamide resistance in non-multidrug-resistant isolates, with predictive values exceeding 99%. Molecular assays are probably the way forward for detecting pyrazinamide resistance.
Topics: Amidohydrolases; Antitubercular Agents; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pyrazinamide; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 21768515
DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00630-11 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Mar 2011About one third of the world's population has latent tuberculosis. In 2004, more than 14 million people had active tuberculosis. About 1.7 million people died from the... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
About one third of the world's population has latent tuberculosis. In 2004, more than 14 million people had active tuberculosis. About 1.7 million people died from the infection in 2006. More than 80% of new cases diagnosed in 2004 were in people in Africa, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific regions.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of interventions to prevent tuberculosis in people without HIV infection at high risk of developing tuberculosis? What are the effects of interventions to prevent tuberculosis in people without HIV infection at high risk of developing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis? What are the effects of different drug regimens in people with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis without HIV infection? What are the effects of different drug regimens in people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis without HIV infection? What are the effects of low-level laser therapy in people with tuberculosis without HIV infection? Which interventions improve adherence to treatment in people with tuberculosis without HIV infection? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to June 2010 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 32 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review, we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: adding pyrazinamide in chemotherapy regimens lasting up to 6 months, adding rifampicin to isoniazid regimens, benefits of different regimens, chemotherapy for <6 months, daily chemotherapy, direct observation treatment, intermittent chemotherapy for 6 months or longer, isoniazid, low-level laser therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis, regimens containing quinolones, rifampicin plus isoniazid, substituting rifampicin with ethambutol in the continuous phase, and support mechanisms for directly observed treatment.
Topics: Antitubercular Agents; HIV Infections; Humans; Isoniazid; Low-Level Light Therapy; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 21396138
DOI: No ID Found -
PLoS Medicine Sep 2009A standardized regimen recommended by the World Health Organization for retreatment of active tuberculosis (TB) is widely used, but treatment outcomes are suspected to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
A standardized regimen recommended by the World Health Organization for retreatment of active tuberculosis (TB) is widely used, but treatment outcomes are suspected to be poor. We conducted a systematic review of published evidence of treatment of patients with a history of previous treatment or documented isoniazid mono-resistance.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central database for clinical trials were searched for randomized trials in previously treated patients and/or those with with mono-resistance to isoniazid, published in English, French, or Spanish between 1965 and June 2008. The first two sources were also searched for cohort studies evaluating specifically the current retreatment regimen. In studies selected for inclusion, rifampin-containing regimens were used to treat patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB, in whom bacteriologically confirmed failure and/or relapse had been reported. Pooled cumulative incidences and 95% CIs of treatment outcomes were computed with random effects meta-analyses and negative binomial regression. No randomized trials of the currently recommended retreatment regimen were identified. Only six cohort studies were identified, in which failure rates were 18%–44% in those with isoniazid resistance. In nine trials, using very different regimens in previously treated patients with mono-resistance to isoniazid, the combined failure and relapse rates ranged from 0% to over 75%. From pooled analysis of 33 trials in 1,907 patients with mono-resistance to isoniazid, lower failure, relapse, and acquired drug resistance rates were associated with longer duration of rifampin, use of streptomycin, daily therapy initially, and treatment with a greater number of effective drugs.
CONCLUSIONS
There are few published studies to support use of the current standardized retreatment regimen. Randomized trials of treatment of persons with isoniazid mono-resistance and/or a history of previous TB treatment are urgently needed.
UNLABELLED
Topics: Antitubercular Agents; Cohort Studies; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Isoniazid; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recurrence; Rifampin; Streptomycin; Treatment Failure; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 20101802
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000150 -
The Canadian Journal of Hospital... Sep 2009Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) is a pharmacokinetic parameter that represents overall exposure to a drug. For selected anti-infective agents,...
BACKGROUND
Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) is a pharmacokinetic parameter that represents overall exposure to a drug. For selected anti-infective agents, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic parameters, such as AUC/MIC (where MIC is the minimal inhibitory concentration), have been correlated with outcome in a few studies. A limited-sampling strategy may be used to estimate pharmacokinetic parameters such as AUC, without the frequent, costly, and inconvenient blood sampling that would be required to directly calculate the AUC.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss, by means of a systematic review, the strengths, limitations, and clinical implications of published studies involving a limited-sampling strategy for anti-infective agents and to propose improvements in methodology for future studies.
METHODS
The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched using the terms "anti-infective agents", "limited sampling", "optimal sampling", "sparse sampling", "AUC monitoring", "abbreviated AUC", "abbreviated sampling", and "Bayesian". The reference lists of retrieved articles were searched manually. Included studies were classified according to modified criteria from the US Preventive Services Task Force.
RESULTS
Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Six of the studies (involving didanosine, zidovudine, nevirapine, ciprofloxacin, efavirenz, and nelfinavir) were classified as providing level I evidence, 4 studies (involving vancomycin, didanosine, lamivudine, and lopinavir-ritonavir) provided level II-1 evidence, 2 studies (involving saquinavir and ceftazidime) provided level II-2 evidence, and 8 studies (involving ciprofloxacin, nelfinavir, vancomycin, ceftazidime, ganciclovir, pyrazinamide, meropenem, and alpha interferon) provided level III evidence. All of the studies providing level I evidence used prospectively collected data and proper validation procedures with separate, randomly selected index and validation groups. However, most of the included studies did not provide an adequate description of the methods or the characteristics of included patients, which limited their generalizability.
CONCLUSIONS
Many limited-sampling strategies have been developed for anti-infective agents that do not have a clearly established link between AUC and clinical outcomes in humans. Future studies should first determine if there is an association between AUC monitoring and clinical outcomes. Thereafter, it may be worthwhile to prospectively develop and validate a limited-sampling strategy for the particular anti-infective agent in a similar population.
PubMed: 22478922
DOI: 10.4212/cjhp.v62i5.827 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Apr 2009About a third of the world's population has latent tuberculosis. In 2004, over 14 million people had active tuberculosis. Approximately 1.7 million people died from the... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
About a third of the world's population has latent tuberculosis. In 2004, over 14 million people had active tuberculosis. Approximately 1.7 million people died from the infection. Over 80% of new cases diagnosed in 2004 were in people in Africa, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific regions.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of interventions to prevent tuberculosis in people without HIV infection at high risk of developing tuberculosis? What are the effects of interventions to prevent tuberculosis in people without HIV infection at high risk of developing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis? What are the effects of different drug regimens in people with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis without HIV infection? What are the effects of different drug regimens in people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis without HIV infection? What are the effects of low-level laser therapy in people with tuberculosis without HIV infection? Which interventions improve adherence to treatment in people with tuberculosis without HIV infection? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to July 2008 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 31 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: adding pyrazinamide in chemotherapy regimens lasting up to 6 months; adding rifampicin to isoniazid regimens; benefits of different regimens; chemotherapy for less than 6 months; daily chemotherapy; direct observation treatment; intermittent chemotherapy for 6 months or longer; isoniazid; low-level laser therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis; regimens containing quinolones; rifampicin plus isoniazid; substituting rifampicin with ethambutol in the continuous phase; and support mechanisms for directly observed treatment.
Topics: Antitubercular Agents; HIV Infections; Humans; Isoniazid; Latent Tuberculosis; Low-Level Light Therapy; Rifampin; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 19445749
DOI: No ID Found -
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics Oct 2005The peritoneum is one of the most common extrapulmonary sites of tuberculous infection. Peritoneal tuberculosis remains a significant problem in parts of the world where... (Review)
Review
The peritoneum is one of the most common extrapulmonary sites of tuberculous infection. Peritoneal tuberculosis remains a significant problem in parts of the world where tuberculosis is prevalent. Increasing population migration, usage of more potent immunosuppressant therapy and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic has contributed to a resurgence of this disease in regions where it had previously been largely controlled. Tuberculous peritonitis frequently complicates patients with underlying end-stage renal or liver disease that further adds to the diagnostic difficulty. The diagnosis of this disease, however, remains a challenge because of its insidious nature, the variability of its presentation and the limitations of available diagnostic tests. A high index of suspicion is needed whenever confronted with unexplained ascites, particularly in high-risk patients. Based on a systematic review of the literature, we recommend: tuberculous peritonitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients presenting with unexplained lymphocytic ascites and those with a serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) of <11 g/L; culture growth of Mycobacterium of the ascitic fluid or peritoneal biopsy as the gold standard test; further studies to determine the role of polymerase chain reaction, ascitic adenosine deaminase and the BACTEC radiometric system for acceleration of mycobacterial identification as means of improving the diagnostic yield; increasing utilization of ultrasound and computerized tomographic scan for the diagnosis and as a guidance to obtain peritoneal biopsies; low threshold for diagnostic laparoscopy; treatment for 6 months with the first-line antituberculous drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide) in uncomplicated cases.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Algorithms; Antitubercular Agents; Female; Humans; Laparoscopy; Male; Peritonitis, Tuberculous; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 16197489
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02645.x