[Directly observed treatment for tuberculosis in a Buenos Aires City hospital]

The outcomes of directly observed therapy of tuberculosis (DOT) between 1/1/1979 and 12/31/2009 were analyzed. Results obtained in the 1979-1999 period were compared with those achieved in the 2000-2009 period. In a Buenos Aires City hospital, 582 HIV negative TB patients received rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol or streptomycin in the initial stage, followed by a second stage where patients were included in two groups: G1 composed by 424 patients (period 1/1/1979-12/31/1999) who received either rifampin and isoniazid or rifampin and streptomicin twice a week, and G2, with 158 patients (period 1/1/2000-12/31/2009) who received either rifampin and isoniazid twice or three times a week. National and Buenos Aires City TB Control Programs recommendations were followed. Patients who underwent DOT had higher completeness rates than those included in self-administered therapy (82.8% vs. 48.7%), (p <0.0001). Mean age: 36.3 ± 15.3 years, males: 63.1% and 69.4% were Argentine citizens. A 8.9% had been previously treated, 6.1% had co-morbidities. A 70.6% of pulmonary cases was bacteriologically confirmed, 82.8% of them completed the treatment, while 11.5% defaulted. Adverse effects to antituberculosis drugs were observed in 9.5% of cases; male patients showed higher rates of non adherence. G2 had a lower proportion of native people (48.7% vs. 77.1%), (p = 0.0001), higher frequency of co-morbidities (10.7% vs. 4.4%), (p = 0.005), of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary cases (95% vs. 87%), (p = 0.02) and more adverse effects than G1 (17% vs. 6.6%), (p = 0.0001). In coincidence with other experiences, this work shows high treatment success rates in patients treated under DOT strategy.