| The Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Short-term Treatment in Patients with Recurrent Pulmonary Tuberculosis. |
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Seung Soo Yoo, Jee Suk Kwon, Yeh Rim Kang, Jeong Woo Lee, Seung Ick Cha, Jae Yong Park, Tae Hoon Jung, Chang Ho Kim |
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Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea. kimch@knu.ac.kr |
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| Abstract |
BACKGROUND
Recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) can be due to relapse of the original infecting strain or due to reinfection with a new strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We investigated the clinical characteristics and efficacy of short-term treatment (6 months) in patients with recurrent pulmonary TB. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with recurrent pulmonary TB were compared with control patients who received primary treatment for pulmonary TB with respect to drug sensitivity and outcomes of treatment. RESULTS: Most patients with recurrent pulmonary TB (25 cases, 86.2%) recurred more than 2 years after the completion of previous treatment. Twenty-three patients (82.1%) with recurrent pulmonary TB were sensitive to all anti-tuberculous drugs and a ratio was similar to the drug sensitivities observed in control patients. The outcomes of short-term treatment in patients with drug-sensitive TB were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Recurrent pulmonary TB in the study area was likely due to reinfection with new strains. Thus the short-term treatment of patients with drug-sensitive recurrent pulmonary TB may be successful.(Tuberc Respir Dis 2008;64:341-346) |
| Key Words:
Recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis, Reinfection, Relapse |
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