• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.86 no.3
• /
• pp.234-244
• /
• 2023

Background: Effective treatment of fluoroquinolone-resistant multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (FQr-MDR-TB) is difficult because of the limited number of available core anti-TB drugs and high rates of resistance to anti-TB drugs other than FQs. However, few studies have examined anti-TB drugs that are effective in treating patients with FQr-MDR-TB in a real-world setting. Methods: The impact of anti-TB drug use on treatment outcomes in patients with pulmonary FQr-MDR-TB was retrospectively evaluated using a nationwide integrated TB database (Korean Tuberculosis and Post-Tuberculosis). Data from 2011 to 2017 were included. Results: The study population consisted of 1,082 patients with FQr-MDR-TB. The overall treatment outcomes were as follows: treatment success (69.7%), death (13.7%), lost to follow-up or not evaluated (12.8%), and treatment failure (3.9%). On a propensity-score-matched multivariate logistic regression analysis, the use of bedaquiline (BDQ), linezolid (LZD), levofloxacin (LFX), cycloserine (CS), ethambutol (EMB), pyrazinamide, kanamycin (KM), prothionamide (PTO), and para-aminosalicylic acid against susceptible strains increased the treatment success rate (vs. unfavorable outcomes). The use of LFX, CS, EMB, and PTO against susceptible strains decreased the mortality (vs. treatment success). Conclusion: A therapeutic regimen guided by drug-susceptibility testing can improve the treatment of patients with pulmonary FQr-MDR-TB. In addition to core anti-TB drugs, such as BDQ and LZD, treatment of susceptible strains with later-generation FQs and KM may be beneficial for FQr-MDR-TB patients with limited treatment options.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.76 no.6
• /
• pp.261-268
• /
• 2014

Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are increasingly being treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents and are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) is recommended in these patients due to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy. Traditionally, LTBI has been diagnosed on the basis of clinical factors and a tuberculin skin test. Recently, interferon-gamma releasing assays (IGRAs) that can detect TB infection have become available. Considering the high-risk of developing TB in patients on anti-TNF therapy, the use of both a tuberculin skin test and an IGRA should be considered to detect and treat LTBI in patients with IMIDs. The traditional LTBI treatment regimen consisted of isoniazid monotherapy for 9 months. However, shorter regimens such as 4 months of rifampicin or 3 months of isoniazid/rifampicin are increasingly being used to improve treatment completion rates. In this review, the screening methods for diagnosing latent and active TB before anti-TNF therapy in patients with IMIDs will be briefly described, as well as the current LTBI treatment regimens, the recommendations for managing TB that develops during anti-TNF therapy, the necessity of regular monitoring to detect new TB infection, and the re-initiation of anti-TNF therapy in patients who develop TB.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.1123-1142
• /
• 1998

Background : The frequency of MOTT has risen as the prevalence of tuberculosis has been declining. Our country has been also. The most of MOTT was resistant to the major anti-tuberculous drugs. Method : To compare clinical characteristics and frequencies of MDR tuberculosis with MOTT, the author studied 65 patients showing AFB culture positive with sputum. The data were collected from 176 patients who had been admitted at the National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital from May to June, 1997 to April, 1998. Result : The frequency of MDR tuberculosis was 43.1% and that of MOTT was 9.2%. Among 65 isolated mycobacteria, 3 cases were M. intracellulare. 2 cases were M. fortuitum, and 1 case was unidentified MOTT. The most frequent age group in 65 culture positive patients was 4th decade and the mean age was 44. The mean age was 61 in MOTT and 42 in M. tuberculosis and had significant difference(p<0.01). The numbers with past history of treatment were 2.3 in MDR tuberculosis and 1.7 in non-MDR tuberculosis and had significant difference(p<0.05). At the time of admission, the most frequent regimen for the treatment of MDR tuberculosis was 24 months regimen(85.7%) with the 2nd line anti-tuberculosis drugs. For non-MDR tuberculosis, 9 or 12 months regimen (72.9%) with the 1st line anti-tuberculosis drugs and had significant difference (p<0.01). At the time of admission, the symptom of weight loss was shown in 84.7% of M. tuberculosis and 50.0% in MOTT and there was significant difference(p<0.05) between them. All of the MOTT were identified to be resistant against INH and PAS. Drug resistance rates to INH, OFX(p<0.01) and PAS(p<0.05) in MOTT were higher than in MDR. All of three M. intracellulare strains were resistant to INH, RFP, PAS and OFX. All of two M. fortuitum strains were resistant to most anti-tuberculosis drugs. And the other MOTT was resistant to INH, EMB and PAS. Conclusion : MOTT was more common in elderly patients than M. tuberculosis. MOTT cases should be considered to be the probability of multiple drug resistance and treatment failure during the 1st treatment because they showed more resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs than M. tuberculosis cases. Therefore, there should be more careful investigations for clinical characteristics, natural history of disease, and efficient management for MOTT.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.3
• /
• pp.270-276
• /
• 2006

• Clinical Pain
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.102-106
• /
• 2019

Tuberculosis in the foot progresses gradually; thus, diagnosis is usually delayed, and early treatment is rarely provided. If osteomyelitis occurs due to delayed diagnosis and treatment, surgical treatment should be considered. We report the case of a 46-year-old man with osteomyelitis of the calcaneus who was diagnosed with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis and he was treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs. Bilateral adrenal masses, abscess of both testes and a small wound in the left plantar heel were observed. Both adrenal masses and abscess were regarded as paradoxical reaction of anti-tuberculosis treatment. After 1 month, he developed a pain in the left plantar heel that was compatible with calcaneal osteomyelitis in radiological features. He underwent right orchiectomy for right scrotal abscess aggravation and surgical treatment for left calcaneal osteomyelitis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The patient was immobilized by cast for 8 weeks and the heel pain gradually improved.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.80 no.2
• /
• pp.143-152
• /
• 2017

Background: Fluoroquinolones are considered important substitutes for the treatment of tuberculosis. This study investigates the current status of fluoroquinolone for the treatment of tuberculosis. Methods: In 2009, a retrospective analysis was performed at one tertiary referral center for 953 patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. Results: A total of 226 patients (23.6%), who received fluoroquinolone at any time during treatment for tuberculosis, were enrolled in this study. The most common reasons for fluoroquinolone use were adverse events due to other anti-tuberculosis drugs (52.7%), drug resistance (23.5%), and underlying diseases (16.8%). Moxifloxacin (54.0%, 122/226) was the most commonly administered fluoroquinolone, followed by levofloxacin (36.3%, 82/226) and ofloxacin (9.7%, 22/226). The frequency of total adverse events from fluoroquinolone-containing anti-tuberculosis medication was 22.6%, whereas fluoroquinolone-related adverse events were estimated to be 2.2% (5/226). The most common fluoroquinolone-related adverse events were gastrointestinal problems (3.5%, 8/226). There were no significant differences in the treatment success rate between the fluoroquinolone and fluoroquinolone-$na{\ddot{i}}ve$ groups (78.3% vs. 78.4%, respectively). Conclusion: At our institution, fluoroquinolones are commonly used for the treatment of both multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and susceptible tuberculosis, especially as a substitute for adverse event-related drugs. Considering the low adverse event rates and the comparable treatment success rates, fluoroquinolones seem to be an invaluable drug for the treatment of tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.78 no.2
• /
• pp.47-55
• /
• 2015

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) constitutes about 20% of all cases of tuberculosis (TB) in Korea. Diagnosing EPTB remains challenging because clinical samples obtained from relatively inaccessible sites may be paucibacillary, thus decreasing the sensitivity of diagnostic tests. Whenever practical, every effort should be made to obtain appropriate specimens for both mycobacteriologic and histopathologic examinations. The measurement of biochemical markers in TB-affected serosal fluids (adenosine deaminase or gamma interferon) and molecular biology techniques such as polymerase chain reaction may be useful adjuncts in the diagnosis of EPTB. Although the disease usually responds to standard anti-TB drug therapy, the ideal regimen and duration of treatment have not yet been established. A paradoxical response frequently occurs during anti-TB therapy. It should be distinguished from other causes of clinical deterioration. Surgery is required mainly to obtain valid diagnostic specimens and to manage complications. Because smear microscopy or culture is not available to monitor patients with EPTB, clinical monitoring is the usual way to assess the response to treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.78 no.3
• /
• pp.168-174
• /
• 2015

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is still a major threat worldwide. However, recent scientific advances in diagnostic and therapeutic tools have improved the management of drug-resistant TB. The development of rapid molecular testing methods allows for the early detection of drug resistance and prompt initiation of an appropriate treatment. In addition, there has been growing supportive evidence for shorter treatment regimens in multidrug-resistant TB; and for the first time in over 50 years, new anti-TB drugs have been developed. The World Health Organization has recently revised their guidelines, primarily based on evidence from a meta-analysis of individual patient data (n=9,153) derived from 32 observational studies, and outlined the recommended combination and correct use of available anti-TB drugs. This review summarizes the updated guidelines with a focus on the medical management of drug-resistant TB.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.80 no.3
• /
• pp.265-269
• /
• 2017

Background: The first line of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs are the most effective standard of drugs for TB. However, the use of these drugs is associated with hepatotoxicity. Silymarin has protective effects against hepatotoxicity of anti-TB drugs in animal models. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of silymarin on hepatotoxicity caused by anti-TB drugs. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study. Patients were eligible if they were 20 years of age or order and started the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. Eligible patients were randomized for receiving silymarin or a placebo for the first 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who showed elevated serum liver enzymes more than 3 times the upper normal limit (UNL) or total bilirubin (TBil) > $2{\times}UNL$ within the first 8 weeks of anti-TB treatment. Results: We enrolled a total of 121 patients who silymarin or a placebo to start their anti-TB treatment, for the first 8 weeks. The proportions of elevated serum liver enzymes more than 3 times of UNL at week 2, week 4, and week 8 did not show any significant difference between the silymarin and placebo groups, at 0% versus 3.6% (p>0.999); 4.4% versus 3.6% (p>0.999); and 8.7% versus 10.8% (p=0.630), respectively. However, patients with TBil >$2{\times}UNL$ at week 8 were significantly low in the silymarin group (0% versus 8.7%, p=0.043). Conclusion: Our findings did not show silymarin had any significant preventive effect on the hepatotoxicity of anti-TB drugs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.80 no.2
• /
• pp.210-211
• /
• 2017