Abstract: Objective  To analysis the treatment outcome of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases in three cities (Xuzhou city, Nantong city and Zhenjiang city) of Jiangsu province.  Methods  one hundred and seventy-five multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases were enrolled in this study from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2010 in these three cities. Among 175 MDR-TB cases 133 were male and 42 were female. These patients aged from 19 years to 88 years with mean age (49.74±15.24) years. Treatment period lasted for 24 months (injection period of 6 months, intensive period of 18 months). Eighty seven MDR-TB patients were treated with standardized treatment regimen and 88 MDR-TB patients were treated with individualized regimen. During the treatment period, examinations of sputum smear, sputum culture, liver function, blood and urine routine tests, chest radiography and body mass were carried out for patient surveillance (monthly in injection period, once every two months in intensive period). DOTS managements were carried out throughout the treatment. Rate was used to describe categorical va-riables, Excel worksheet was used to establish database. SPSS 13.0 software was applied for statistical analysis and chi-square test was used for comparison between groups.   Results  Among 175 MDR-TB cases, 84 cases were cured, 11 completed the full treatment course with the treatment success rate 54.29% (95/175). 53 (30.29%) cases were treatment failure, among whom 18 cases stopped taking drugs because of adverse reactions and 35 cases were treatment failure (including 9 cases developed XDR-TB). 11 (6.29%) cases defaulted, 14 cases died and 2 cases transferred out. The treatment success rate was 63.64% (7/11) in new patients, and 62.65% (52/83) in relapse patients and 44.44% (36/81) in other previously treated patients. The difference of treatment success rate among the three groups was statistical significance (χ²=11.03, P=0.004). The treatment success rates were 51.72% (45/87) in patients with standardized treatment regimen and 56.82% (50/88) in patients with individua-lized regimen, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (χ²=0.46, P>0.05). There was a significance difference (χ²=55.73, P<0.001) of treatment outcome among patients with different sputum culture results at the end of 6th month. The highest treatment success rate was 73.73% (87/118) in the patients with ne-gative sputum culture at the end of 6th month.  Conclusion  The treatment of MDR-TB in project areas is effective, and it can provide reference for MDR-TB control work in Jiangsu province.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary/drug therapy, Drug resistance, multiple, bacterial, Clinical protocols