Preliminary Report - Effectiveness of Taiwan Multiple Drug Resistance Tuberculosis Consortium (TMTC)

Ching-Ting Su1, Su-Hua Huang1, Ming-Chih Yu2, Shih-Wei Lee3, Yi-Wen Huang4,Shun-Tien Chien5, Jen-Jyh Lee6, Chin-Hui Yang1, Pei-Chun Chan1

2010 Vol.26 NO.23

Correspondence Author： Pei-Chun Chan

Abstract：

In contrary to the conventional model of DOT for MDR-TB patient care, Taiwan CDC launched a hospital-initiated, patient-centered treatment program (Taiwan MDR-TB consortium, TMTC) since May 2007. A total of 370 MDR-TB cases that were diagnosed before 30th Aug, 2008 were enrolled and 225(60.8%) MDR-TB patients receiving TMTC care for at least 6 months within 6 months of diagnosis were classified as TMTC group. All others were classified as control group. The crude conversion rates of smear and culture were better in TMTC group than control group. After stratification by patient classifications, the culture conversion rate for TMTC group at 18 months was 87.6 %, which was 1.64 (95% confidence interval = 1.38-1.95, p<0.001) fold better than control group. The model of government-organized, hospital-initiated and patient-centered treatment, revealed better process indicators in this preliminary report. Further analysis for treatment outcome in long term follow-up in order to evaluate the policy of disease prevention is warranted.