Treatment outcome of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients at a tertiary care center of Northern India

<b>Background:</b> Curing multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a challenging task despite lengthy treatment with costly second-line drug regimens. Adequate follow-up of patients during the treatment period to assess treatment outcome, is a challenging task under programmatic conditions. This study was undertaken to analyze the outcomes of MDR-TB patients treated with the recommended 24 months regimen, under programmatic conditions. <b>Aims:</b> To study the treatment outcome of MDR-TB and the various factors affecting it. <b>Settings and Design:</b> Retrospective analysis of MDR-TB patients for various outcomes. <b>Methods and Material:</b> 2860 MDR-TB patients were enrolled and treated with standard regimen for MDR-TB, as per RNTCP guidelines and data including clinical and demographic profile and outcomes were recorded. Treatment outcome was defined as cure rate, treatment completed, default rate, death rate and failure. The factors affecting these outcomes were also studied. <b>Results:</b> The sputum culture conversion rate was 59.44% at 6th month of treatment. The cure rate was 35.66%, treatment completed 9.09, death rate 25.87%, defaulter rate 26.57% and failure 2.44%. <b>Conclusions:</b> The major hindrance in achieving a good cure-rate was a high death rate and default. Early diagnosis of MDR-TB and adequate clinical monitoring during treatment is essential to prevent these undesired outcomes. Identifying adverse drug reactions, other co-morbidities and their optimal management is the key to success.