Abstract:
Objective: To identify the treatment outcomes among patients having confi rmed diagnosis of multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Study design: Prospective cohort study Place and duration of study: Th e study was conducted at programmatic management of drug resistant TB (PMDT) unit of Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Swat, a tertiary care hospital for a period of three years from May 24th, 2014 till May 23rd, 2017. Material and methods: Fift y-one patients with confi rmed diagnosis of MDR-TB were recruited in this study. Patients were provided with complete diagnostic facilities to include Sputum AFB, Gene X Pert and Sputum culture and sensitivity. Patients with MDR-TB were provided with fi ve drugs during the intensive phase and four drugs during continuation phase of therapy. Demographic details, presence of pulmonary tuberculosis, human immunodefi ciency virus infection; and previous TB treatment was recorded. Sensitivity to the second line antiTB drugs and treatment outcomes (i.e. Cured, Treatment Failed, Mortality, Lost to Follow-up) were recorded based on World Health Organisation defi nition. Results: All MDR-TB patients in this study had pulmonary tuberculosis, were HIV negative and had tuberculosis treatment in the past. Forty-three(84.3%) patients were not resistant to Second Line Drugs. Of the 51-patients, 36(70.6%) were cured, 2(3.9%) were not evaluated, 3(5.9%) of patients were lost to follow-up; and treatment failed in one patient. Mortality recorded at follow-up was nine (17.6%) patients. Conclusion: Th e programmatic management of the multi drug resistant tuberculosis patients has shown favourable outcomes with 70% cure rates.