Fixed dose combination short course chemotherapy in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis

In this study two highly effective chemotherapeutic regimens of 6 and 8 months duration were studied and compared with the standard 12 month therapy under full supervision at the National TB Centre and St. Peter's TB Hospital in Addis Abeba. Patients with direct smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis were admitted to hospital during the initial phase of treatment for two months. At two months, sputum conversion rates, by direct smear and culture respectively, were 82% and 80% on Rifater, and 86 or 88% and 86% on the regimens containing separate preparations of isoniazid rifampicin and pyrazinamide, compared to 60% and 30% on the standard regimen. It was concluded that short course regimens of six or eight months with drugs either in combined form or separate preparations are more effective than the standard regimen.