Outcome of second-line tuberculosis treatment in migrants from Vietnam. International Organization for Migration (IOM) Tuberculosis Working Group

From 1990 to 1995, 410,441 prospective migrants were screened for tuberculosis (TB) in Ho-Chi-Minh City (Vietnam), within the framework of the Orderly Departure Programme. 161 individuals had multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB and were treated with a seven-drug regimen (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, capreomycin, cycloserine, and ethionamide) for at least 12 months. In January 1996, 31 of these patients were still on treatment. The cumulative percentage of cure was 21% at 18 months, 71.6% at 36 months, and 81.2% at 55 months. Sex, age, presence of cavities, and previous tuberculosis treatment did not affect the chance of cure, but age > 45 years significantly affected the chance of treatment failure (nonadherence, death, treatment stopped due to side effects).