OBJECTIVES To determine predictive factors for changes in standard anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy at the time of diagnosis. METHODS A prospective study was performed among tuberculosis (TB) patients treated at specialised centres during 2008-2009. Treatment outcome was monitored per standard guidelines. Treatment was considered successful if the patient was cured or completed treatment. Factors associated with treatment modification were analysed at the bivariate and multivariate levels using logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 427 patients were included in the study. The initial standard treatment regimen was retained for 249 patients (58.3%), extended to 9 months for 36 (8.4%) and changed for 142 (33.3%). Factors associated with a change of regimen at the multivariate level were female sex, age ≥ 50 years, human immunodeficiency virus infection, comorbidities, alcoholism, hospitalisation and culture-positive sputum. Drug resistance and toxicity were analysed independently. Treatment outcome was successful in 97.2% of cases without a regimen change and in 87.3% of those with a changed regimen (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Factors associated with changes in the initial anti-tuberculosis regimen should be considered for rigorous follow-up. Results obtained through individualised treatment provided by specialists were good despite the complexity of the cases treated.

SETTING:The association between smoking and pulmonary tuberculosis has not often been studied.OBJECTIVE:To assess the influence of cigarette smoking on the development of active pulmonary tuberculosis in young people who were close contacts of new cases of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis.DESIGN:A case-control study in which 46 'cases' (patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis: isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis or clinical and/or radiographic evidence of current pulmonary tuberculosis, with a positive tuberculin skin test) and 46 'controls' (persons with positive tuberculin reaction, negative bacteriological test and without clinical and/or radiological evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis) were included. Smoking habits were investigated by questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed, and odds ratio (OR) was adjusted for age, gender and socio-economic status.RESULTS:Statistically significant differences were found in active smokers (occasional and daily smokers) (OR: 3.65; 95% CI, 1.46 and 9.21; P < 0.01), daily smokers (OR: 3.53; 95% CI, 1.34 and 9.26; P < 0.05), and individuals who were both passive and active smokers (OR: 5.10; 95% CI, 1.97 and 13.22; P < 0.01) and passive and daily smokers (OR: 5.59; 95% CI, 2.07 and 15.10; P < 0.001). There was a dose-response relationship between the number of cigarettes smoked daily and the risk of active pulmonary tuberculosis.CONCLUSIONS:The data studied show that cigarette smoking is a risk factor for pulmonary tuberculosis in young people, with a dose-response relationship with the number of cigarettes consumed daily.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to know whether the human reaction to the Mantoux test with 5 UT of PPD RT 23 is similar to that achieved with the same test but with 2 UT of the same substance.METHODS: A simultaneous double Mantoux test was used at doses of 2 UT and another of 5 UT of the same trade mark of tuberculin PPD RT 23 with Tween 80 in 2,575 individuals. The subjects were distributed into two different groups of differents ages, taking into consideration the possible presence of BCG vaccination.RESULTS: The dosis of 5 UT produced a greated number of tuberculin positive individuals and a greater diameter of induration of reaction than that of the dosis of 2 UT in both groups and with significant statistical differences. One hundred ninety-six (7 %) subjects were tuberculin positive with 5 UT and negative with 2 UT.CONCLUSIONs: The reactions produced by the Mantoux test with 5 and 5 UT PPD RT were different since the two dosis are not bioequivalent.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to know the efficacy of the BCG vaccination campaign of the newborns of Barcelona carried out during the period from 1966-1974.METHODS: To achieve this aim an epidemiologic investigation was undertaken by an observational analytical study of paired cases and controls. Two hundred and fifty randomly selected cases were studied between 1978-1988 from between 4-21 years of age during the study period. The cases were paired with 750 controls (1:3) with identical conditions and age, sex and place of residence. Statistical analysis of data was performed by the specific methods for this type of study.RESULTS: The estimated gross odds ratio was 0.68; the interval of confidence 95 % and 0.51-0.91 (p < 0.025). The efficacy of this vaccination campaign was estimated as weak at 32 %, in the age group and investigation time beign greater in males and diminished with time. The percentage of new cases of tuberculosis potentially prevented by this campaign was calculated at 13 % CONCLUSIONS: The weak efficacy of the BCG vaccination campaign may be attributed not only to the unforeseen effects of this vaccine but also to the deficient operative aspects of the campaign itself.