Outcome of second-line tuberculosis treatment in migrants from Vietnam

From 1990 to 1995, 410 441 prospective migrants were screened for tuberculo sis (TB) in Ho-Chi-Minh City (Vietnam), within the framework of the Orderly Departure Programme. 161 individuals had multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB and were treated with a seven-drug regimen (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, capreomycin, cycloserine, and ethionamide) for at least 12 mo nths. In January 1996, 31 of these patients were still on treatment. The cu mulative percentage of cure was 21% at 18 months, 71.6% at 36 months, and 8 1.2% at 55 months. Sex, age, presence of cavities, and previous tuberculosi s treatment did not affect the chance of cure, but age > 45 years significa ntly affected the chance of treatment failure (nonadherence, death, treatme nt stopped due to side effects).