Tuberc Respir Dis.  1980 Mar;27(1):1-8. 10.4046/trd.1980.27.1.1.

A Survey on Distribution of Intractable Tuberculosis Patients and an Analysis

• KMID: 2528886
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1980.27.1.1

Abstract

It is true that we could expect a certain numbers of intractable pulmonary tuberculosis patient through out the country. Those patients are probably due to misuse and/or abuse of antituberculous drugs. But it is not clear about real situation 'on of those patients. Therefore The Committee was organized and this survey was initiated among patients registered to the health centers under the National TB Control Program. The Committee put out the definition of intractable tuberculosis patient as follows: first, the patient gives persistant positive sputum test for AFB even after 6 months of retreatment at the health center, and secondly, the patient showed resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin among retreatment candidates.
Results
are obtained as following: Fifty six health centers were selected from total 204 health centers in Korea, and 43, 906 cases (38.5% ) were selected from about 120, 000 patients. 1. Intractable patients occupied 0.8% of total registered patients to the health centers, and 11. 5% of retreatment candidates. 2. Retreatment candidates were 18.5% of total sputum positive cases registered. 3. Male patients occupied 88. 6% of intractable cases and 11. 4% were female. Age group of 30"'49 years kept 60% of intractable cases. 4. Living standard of them were reviewed; 9.7% was extremely poor, 16.7% was relatively poor and 73.6% was general population. 5. According to previous treatment, 1~3 years was consisted of 40% as highest and 4~5 years was 33. 9%. 6. Drugs which were used before were reviewed; 1~4 years of INH was 77.8%, but drugs used less than 1 years were PAS 72. 3%, SM 71. 1%, ethambut이 63.4%, pyrazinamide 66.7% , KM 61. 7%, and rifampicin 65.2%. 7. Patients who were impossible to get ambulatory care or bed-ridden occupied 46% of intractable cases.