Community-based treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: early experience and results from Western Kenya

In the light of the 2010 World Health Organization estimation of 650 000 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) globally, the need to develop, implement and scale up MDR-TB treatment programs is clear. The need is greatest and urgent in resource-poor countries, such as Kenya, with a high TB burden and an anticipated rise in reported cases of MDR-TB with increasing access to drug susceptibility testing.

To describe the set-up of a community-based program, early clinical outcomes, challenges and possible solutions.

The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (Moi Hospital) catchment areas: Western and North Rift Provinces, Kenya.

Program description and retrospective chart review.

An MDR-TB team established a community-based program with either home-based DOT or local facility-based DOT. Following referral, the team instituted a home visit, identified and hired a DOT worker, trained family and local health care professionals in MDR-TB care and initiated community-based MDR-TB treatment. In the first 24 months, 14 patients were referred, 5 died prior to initiation of treatment and one had extensively drug-resistant TB. Among eight patients who initiated community-based DOT, 87% underwent culture conversion by 6 months, and 75% were cured with no relapse after a median follow-up of 15.5 months. Multiple challenges were experienced, including system delays, stigma and limited funding.

Despite multiple challenges, our model of an MDR-TB team that establishes a community-based treatment system encircling diagnosed cases of MDR-TB is feasible, with acceptable treatment outcomes.