Outcomes of HIV-infected patients treated for recurrent tuberculosis with the standard retreatment regimen.

SETTING: The Groupe Haitien dEtude du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infections Opportunistes (the GHESKIO AIDS and TB Center) in Port-au-Prince Haiti. OBJECTIVE: To measure the effectiveness of the standard TB retreatment regimen (2HRZES/1HRZE/5HRE) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected adults. DESIGN: Cohort study. RESULTS: Of 1318 HIV-infected patients with access to antiretroviral therapy following World Health Organization guidelines 56 were diagnosed with recurrent pulmonary TB and retreated with the standard retreatment regimen: 10 patients (18%) died during retreatment 3 (5%) defaulted and 2 (4%) failed treatment. Forty-one patients (73%) achieved retreatment success (cure treatment completed). Of these 8 (20%) died during follow-up 5 (12%) were lost and 5 (12%) had a second recurrence of TB. Only 26 (46%) of the 56 patients remained alive in care and TB-free after a median of 36 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: HIV-infected patients treated for recurrent TB with the standard retreatment regimen have high mortality and poor long-term outcomes.