[Long-term efficacy of full course intermittent short-course chemotherapy on new smear positive tuberculosis patients].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term efficacy of full course intermittent short-course chemotherapy [2H3R3Z3S3(E3)/4H3R3], which has first been used in the National Tuberculosis Control Programme with the loan from the World Bank and its satisfactory short-term efficacy has been achieved, on new smear positive tuberculosis patients.

METHOD

All new smear positive tuberculosis patients, registered by 56 counties of 12 project provinces and autonomous regions in 1992, were investigated to find out the bacteriological relapse rate 2 years after treatment.

RESULT

One hundred thirty five out of 4400 patients followed up were found smear positive, with a relapse rate of 3.1%.

CONCLUSION

The result suggests that the chemotherapy should be given a priority in the National Tuberculosis Control Programme because of its high cure rate.