RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Outcome of pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a 6-yr follow-up study JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 980 OP 985 DO 10.1183/09031936.06.00125705 VO 28 IS 5 A1 C-Y. Chiang A1 D. A. Enarson A1 M-C. Yu A1 K-J. Bai A1 R-M. Huang A1 C-J. Hsu A1 J. Suo A1 T-P. Lin YR 2006 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/28/5/980.abstract AB A retrospective study was performed to determine factors associated with the outcome of pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Taipei, Taiwan. All patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary MDR-TB in a referral centre from 1992–1996 were enrolled and their outcome over the subsequent 6 yrs was determined. A total of 299 patients were identified, comprising 215 (71.9%) males and 84 (28.1%) females with a mean age of 47.3 yrs. The patients received a mean of 3.7 effective drugs. Out of the 299 patients, 153 (51.2%) were cured, 31 (10.4%) failed, 28 (9.4%) died and 87 (29.1%) defaulted. Of the 125 patients receiving second-line drugs with ofloxacin, 74 (59.2%) were cured. Those who received ofloxacin had a lower risk of relapse than those receiving only first-line drugs (hazard ratio (HR) 0.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03–0.81) and a lower risk of TB-related death than those receiving second-line drugs but not ofloxacin (adjusted HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.31–0.82). In conclusion, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients who received ofloxacin were more likely to be cured, and were less likely to die, fail or relapse. The utility of new-generation fluoroquinolones, such as moxifloxacin, in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis needs to be evaluated. Default from treatment is a major challenge in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.