Efficacy of Various Tuberculosis Treatment Regimens at a Tertiary Health Care Center in South India: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) infection continues to be a major chronic infection causing significant morbidity and mortality, despite being a preventable and treatable infectious disease. The emergence and rapid spread of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the causative bacteria, present a formidable challenge to global TB control efforts. This study aimed to estimate the efficacy of TB treatment regimens and their successful outcomes in a retrospective analysis carried out in a tertiary health care hospital. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on the patients diagnosed with TB and treated with different treatment regimens at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), Chennai, India, between November 2022 and July 2023. Data were collected on demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, and treatment outcomes of the above patients. Results A total of 234 patients were included in the study. The patients were divided according to sex, age, and resistant characteristics; the statistical significance of the collected population was determined. Treatment regimens were followed as either a six-month regimen or nine-month regimen. Conclusion This study provides insights into the comparative efficacy of two TB treatment regimens. The findings highlight the importance of proper analysis of the resistance status of the drug and the initiation of medication over an appropriate period of time.