Treating Tuberculosis: What Drugs, for How Long?

Editorial15 March 1990Treating Tuberculosis: What Drugs, for How Long?Paul T. Davidson, MDPaul T. Davidson, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-76-3-112-6-393 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptEffective drugs for treating tuberculosis have been available for decades. Even before the introduction of specific drug therapy, a gradual decline in incidence of the disease in the United States had begun earlier this century. Both factors have served to create an illusion among some health-care providers as well as the general public that tuberculosis no longer exists or, at worst, is a minor problem. Unfortunately, this perception is incorrect. In recent years the incidence of tuberculosis stopped declining in the United States and, in fact, is increasing alarmingly in some areas and in certain segments of the population (1)....References1. ReiderCauthenKellyBlochSnider HGGAD. Tuberculosis in the United States. JAMA. 1989;262:385-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. 1987 Tuberculosis Statistics in the United States. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control HHS Publication No. (CDC) 89-8322 1989:5. Google Scholar3. CombsO'BrienGeiter DRL. USPHS Tuberculosis Short-Course Chemotherapy Trial 21: effectiveness, toxicity, and acceptability. The report of final results. Ann Intern Med. 1990;112:397-406. LinkGoogle Scholar4. CohnCatlinPetersonJudsonSbarbaro DBKFJ. A 62-dose, 6-month therapy for pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. A twice-weekly, directly observed, and cost-effective regimen. Ann Intern Med. 1990;112:407-415. LinkGoogle Scholar5. Five-year follow-up of a clinical trial of three 6-month regimens of chemotherapy given intermittently in the continuation phase in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Singapore Tuberculosis Service/British Medical Research Council. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1988;137:1147-50. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. SniderLaydeJohnsonLyle DPMM. Treatment of tuberculosis during pregnancy. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1980;122:65-79. MedlineGoogle Scholar7. Davidson P. Drug resistance and the selection of therapy for tuberculosis. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987;136:255-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. PitchenikColeRussellFischeSpiraSnider ACBMTD. Tuberculosis, atypical mycobacteriosis, and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among Haitian and non-Haitian patients in South Florida. Ann Intern Med. 1984;101:641-5. LinkGoogle Scholar9. SunderamMcDonaldManiatisAleskeKapilaReichman GRTJRL. Tuberculosis as a manifestation of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). JAMA. 1986;256:362-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. LouieRiceHolzman ELR. Tuberculosis in non-Haitian patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Chest. 1986;90:542-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection: recommendations of the Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (ACET). MMWR. 1989;38:236-8, 243-50. MedlineGoogle Scholar12. A controlled trial of 2-month, 3-month, and 12-month regimens of chemotherapy for sputum-smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis. Results at 60 months. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984;130:23-8. MedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Paul T. Davidson, MDAffiliations: Tuberculosis Control, Department of Health Services County of Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90242 University of Southern California School of Medicine Los Angeles, CA 90033 Nextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byCardiovascular TuberculosisCardiovascular TuberculosisIssues in Operational, Social, and Economic Research on TuberculosisEffective treatment of primary presentation vital for management of tuberculosis in pregnancyDrug Treatment for Tuberculosis during PregnancyUrogenitaltuberkuloseEvolution of brain tuberculomas under standard antituberculous treatmentTuberculosis in Pregnancy:Interactions, Diagnosis, and ManagementDeleterious influence of pyrazinamide on the outcome of patients with fulminant or subfulminant liver failure during antituberculous treatment including isoniazidCardiovascular TuberculosisTuberculosis Control Policies in Major Metropolitan Health Departments in the United States: V. Standard of Practice in 1992Acute and long-term efficacy of antituberculous treatment in HIV-seropositive patients with tuberculosis: A study of 36 casesClinical management of the complications of HIV infection 15 March 1990Volume 112, Issue 6Page: 393-395KeywordsDrug therapyDrugsPerception ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 15 March 1990 PDF downloadLoading ...