Relapse rate and previous chemotherapy (community-based results)

Abstract

Only a minority of patients with inactive tuberculosis under surveillance have been treated by “acceptable” chemotherapy. The percentage of this group among the relapses is low. From 1964 to 1972 in Stuttgart the relapse rate of this group was not always lower than that of patients who had other chemotherapy or no chemotherapy at all. The overall relapse risk in this period was up to fifteen times higher than the rate of new case of tuberculosis. A study in 1972 confirmed that in seven other districts of Baden-Württemberg only a small group of patients had been treated by “acceptable” chemotherapy, and only in one district did this group show a significantly lower risk of relapse. In Stuttgart 56.1% of all bacteriologically confirmed relapses and 84.7 of other active forms of pulmonary tuberculosis were detected by routine follow-up. In these circumstances routine surveillance should not yet been abandoned.