Daily short course (6 months) chemotherapy for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in Nigerians: a preliminary report.

A trial of daily short courses (6 months) chemotherapy of previously untreated cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in Nigerians was carried out, using two regimens containing rifampicin. All patients had sputum conversion at 3 months, with over 90% of them being sputum-negative at 2 months. There was evidence of radiographic clearance in all the patients at 6 months. It is suggested that patients who still had extensive radiographic lesions at 6 months, though bacteriologically sterile, should have their chemotherapy extended to 9 months to reduce the chance of developing a bacteriological relapse. It was observed that the addition of streptomycin did not make any important contribution to the therapeutic success of rifampicin-isoniazid regimen. No bacteriological relapse was encountered 3 months after the cessation of chemotherapy. Rifampicin was well tolerated and toxic reactions were virtually non-existent. This study confirms the efficacy of short course regimens containing rifampicin. The regimen is advocated, especially in areas where patients' co-operation at taking the 18 month standard treatment cannot be guaranteed.