A unified treatment regimen for new cases of tuberculosis in resource-poorcountries: a study in a rural district in Malawi

An oral ambulatory unified treatment regimen was introduced in Ntcheu Distr ict, Malawi, between April 1996 and June 1997 for all new patients (600) wi th tuberculosis (TB). There was no change in the case finding pattern compa red with the previous 5 pears; 65% of new smear-positive pulmonary tubercul osis (PTB) patients completed treatment, not significantly different compar ed with the previous 3 years. Treatment completion was significantly lower in patients with smear-negative PTB and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, due m ainly to high mortality rates (40% and 41% respectively). In a rural distri ct with high human immunodeficiency virus sere-prevalence rates in TB patie nts, case finding and end of treatment outcome of the oral unified regimen were comparable to those of previous regimens.