First-line chemotherapy in the retreatment of bacteriological relapses of pulmonary tuberculosis following a shortcourse regimen.

Totals of 404 Chinese and 778 East African patients with newly diagnosed drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis were treated with short-course regiments of antituberculosis chemotherapy. The Chinese received 6-month and 9-month regimens of streptomycin plus isoniazid plus pyrazinamide, and the East Africans 6-month regiments of streptomycin plus isoniazid alone or with a third drug. 28 Chinese and 45 African patients who relapsed with drug-sensitive strains after their short-course regimen were retreated with standard first-line chemotherapy. The Chinese were given every single dose under full supervision, but the Africans the initial phase only. At 12 months from the start of their retreatment, all 28 Chinese and 40 (89%) of the 45 Africans had a favourable therapeutic response on their retreatment regimen. 2 of the 5 East African patients whose retreatment failed were known to have been irregular in taking their drugs.