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Yoo, Kwon, Kang, Lee, Cha, Park, Jung, and Kim: The Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Short-term Treatment in Patients with Recurrent Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Original Article
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2008; 64(5): 341-346.

Published online: 31 May 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2008.64.5.341

The Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Short-term Treatment in Patients with Recurrent Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Seung Soo Yoo, M.D., Jee Suk Kwon, M.D., Yeh Rim Kang, M.D., Jeong Woo Lee, M.D., Seung Ick Cha, M.D., Jae Yong Park, M.D., Tae Hoon Jung, M.D., Chang Ho Kim, M.D.

Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Chang Ho Kim, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 50, Samduk-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Daegu 700-721, Korea. Phone: 82-53-420-5537, Fax: 82-53-427-1098, kimch@knu.ac.kr

Received 3 March 2008       Accepted 25 April 2008

Copyright © 2008 The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

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.

Keywords: Recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis, Reinfection, Relapse

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Demographic and clinical features of study subjects
trd-64-341-i001
Table 2
Clinical characteristics of 29 patients with recurrent tuberculosis
trd-64-341-i002
Table 3
Results of drug sensitivity
trd-64-341-i003

H: isoniazid; R: rifampicin; S: streptomycin; E: ethambutol.

Table 4
Outcomes of short-term or extended treatment in patients with drug susceptibility
trd-64-341-i004

6 months: 2HERZ/4HR(E); 9 months: 2HERZ/7HR(E); 12 months: 2HERZ/10HR(E).

*means no evidence of recurrence until the duration of follow-up after treatment completion.

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