Features of intravenous anti TB therapy in patients with first diagnosed pulmonary TB in the intensive phase of treatment

Abstract

Background. We determined the effectiveness of intravenous anti-TB drugs compared with their oral administration during the intensive phase of treatment. Methods. 152 patients with newly diagnosed destructive pulmonary TB were randomized into 2 groups: Main (n=65) who received isoniazid (0.3 g), ethambutol (1.2 g) and sodium rifamycin (0.6 g) iv with pyrazinamide (2.0 g) per os and control (n=87) who received standard chemotherapy with the same drugs in the same doses orally. Results. After intensive phase sputum conversion was found in all the patients main group and 71 (81.6±4.1 %) patients control p<0.05. Time of sputum conversion in main group was 1.6±0.1 months and 1.9±0.1 months in control, p>0.05. In patients with destructive TB time to sputum conversion was 1.7±0.1 months in main group and 2.2±0.2 months in control, p<0.05. Time of cavities healing in main group was 2.9±0.2 months and 3.9±0.2 months in the control, p<0.05. Conclusions. Use of iv isoniazid, ethambutol and sodium rifamycin in the intensive phase of chemotherapy resulted in a significant reduction in terms of sputum conversion.