To evaluate the effectiveness of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment for the first time in Iran.
All cases of MDR-TB with complete follow-up data were recruited and results of their treatments were evaluated.
MDR-TB treatment was initiated with 5.23 drugs, on average. Isoniazid, amikacin, and ofloxacin were present in the drug regimen of all patients. Average duration of the treatment was 18.5 months (range, 7–36). Over 76 % of the patients responded to the treatment (negative smear and culture). Cure and probable cure were documented in seven (41.2 % ) and four (23.5 % ) of the patients, respectively. No failure in the treatment occurred when cycloserine was present in the treatment regimen.
A majority of the MDR-TB patients in Iran can be cured with the use of appropriate treatment regimens. An even greater success could be achieved by providing more second-line drugs.