Retrospective analysis of the therapeutic efficacy of four chemotherapy regimens for newly diagnosed smear-positive outpatients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Shijingshan District of Beijing during 1985-2008

Objective To evaluate the effect of directly observed chemotherapy on newly diagnosed smear-positive outpatients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Shijingshan District, Beijing, during 1985-2008. Methods Totally 1133 newly diagnosed smearpositive pulmonary TB outpatients in Shijingshan District during 1985-2008 were given 4 chemotherapy regimens, one-year course of standard chemotherapy regimen, short-course (half a year) intermittent chemotherapy regimen 1, short-course (half a year) intermittent chemotherapy regimen 2 and short-course daily chemotherapy regimen. The treatment success rates, incidence of adverse reactions and the three-year recurrence rates of the different treatment groups were compared and analyzed. Results The treatment success rate was the highest in short-course daily chemotherapy regimen group (97.2%) and the lowest in standard chemotherapy regimen group (84.3%). The three-year recurrence rates and adverse reaction rates were the lowest in short-course daily chemotherapy regimen group and short-course intermittent chemotherapy regimen 1 group. Conclusion To take the treatment success rates, three-year recurrence rates and adverse reaction rates into account, shortcourse daily chemotherapy regimen is superior to short-course intermittent chemotherapy regimens and standard chemotherapy regimen.