Great diversity of tuberculosis treatment in Finland

Abstract

E U RO SU R V E I L L A N C E Vol . 12 · I ss u es 1-3 · J a n -Ma r 20 07 · w w w. e uros urve ill an c e . o rg 1 7 S u r v e i ll a n c e r e p o r t

MDR‐TB in Finland – still rare despite the situation in our neighbouring countries

“…The favourable treatment outcome of the cases was in line with the earlier studies from other countries (3–8). Compared with our earlier results concerning treatment outcome of sensitive cases of pulmonary TB, this study of MDR‐TB cases showed even better outcome than the one of non‐resistant pulmonary TB (2). This striking finding could be partly because of strict clinical follow‐up of MDR‐TB cases, centralisation of MDR‐TB cases to fewer treatment facilities and the younger age of MDR‐TB cases compared with our earlier cohort (2).…”

“…A national routine outcome follow‐up of pulmonary TB has recently started in Finland. So far, we only have data concerning treatment outcome of drug‐sensitive TB in Finland (2).…”

Risk factors for poor tuberculosis treatment outcome in Finland: a cohort study

“…Definitions for the grouping were based on the national recommendations in Finland following the recommendations by WHO, ATS and BTS [ 27 - 32 ]. We have previously described the treatment grouping in detail [ 20 ]. Duration of treatment was assessed only for standard treatment groups (A – D).…”

“…The WHO/EuroTB category 'treatment interrupted' includes all treatment courses which remained shorter than defined above, whether caused by a patient or by a treating physician. For analysing these two separately, we divided 'treatment interrupted' into 'physician's decision to stop early' and 'default' for interruptions due to patient only [ 20 ]. The outcome was recorded as 'death', if the case died before starting the treatment (not included in the current analysis), during the treatment, or the date of death was within 14 days after cessation of the anti-TB drugs.…”

“…Incomplete treatment carries a risk of development of resistance, increased disease transmission, and increased morbidity and mortality [ 19 ]. In our earlier report from Finland, a favourable outcome was reached in only 65%, death being the outcome in as much as 19%, and defaulting, transferring out or physician's decision to stop treatment early being reasons for other unfavourable outcomes in 12% of the cases [ 20 ].…”