Adjunctive surgery improves treatment outcomes among patients with multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis

Int J Infect Dis. 2012 May;16(5):e391-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2011.12.018. Epub 2012 Mar 17.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine risk factors for poor outcomes among patients with pulmonary multidrug- or extensively drug-resistant (M/XDR) tuberculosis (TB) in Georgia.

Methods: This was a prospective, population-based observational cohort study.

Results: Among 380M/XDR-TB patients (mean age 38 years), 179 (47%) had a poor outcome: 59 (16%) died, 37 (10%) failed, and 83 (22%) defaulted. Newly diagnosed M/XDR-TB cases were significantly more likely to have a favorable outcome than retreatment cases (odds ratio (OR) 4.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.99-9.10, p<0.001). In the multivariable analysis, independent risk factors for a poor treatment outcome included previous treatment history (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.29-6.58), bilateral disease (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.20-3.01), body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) ≤18.5 (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.11-3.29), and XDR-TB (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.11-4.71). Patients who underwent surgical resection (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.11-0.64) and had sputum culture conversion by 4 months (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21-0.52) were significantly less likely to have poor treatment outcomes.

Conclusions: Adjunctive surgery appeared to be beneficial in treating patients with M/XDR-TB. Retreatment cases, XDR-TB, bilateral disease, and low BMI were associated with a poor outcome. Additional studies are needed to further define the apparent beneficial role of surgery in the treatment of M/XDR-TB.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibiotics, Antitubercular / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Georgia (Republic) / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / mortality
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / surgery*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / mortality
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / surgery*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antitubercular