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Biomedical subjects

A K Dutt

Publications and source records attributed to A K Dutt.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Short-course chemotherapy of tuberculosis with largely twice-weekly isoniazid-rifampin.

Although short-course, largely twice weekly chemotherapy for treatment of tuberculosis has been shown to be effective in other countries, when given under closely controlled conditions, it has not been adopted in this country where most patients are older and are treated as outpatients. Since January, 1976, 315 patients (mean age 55.5 years) with proven pulmonary tuberculosis have been treated with rifampin (RIF) 600 mg and isoniazid (INH) 300 mg daily for one month, followed by RIF 600 mg and INH 900 mg twice-weekly for another eight months, self-administered except for a few patients. By three months, 95 percent had converted to negative culture. There were only ten failures among 185 patients in whom final results could be assessed. There has been only one relapse during 1-21 months of follow-up in 175 patients. Serious side effects were few: six instances of jaundice, two of "flu-like syndrome," and one of thrombocytopenia. This form of initial therapy for tuberculosis is safe, effective, and economical.

Adolescent↗

Follow-up of patients with tuberculosis treated in a general hospital program. Treatment largely as outpatients by community physicians.

As of December 1975, there had been 5 to 8 1/2 years of observation on 263 patients with bacteriologically proven tuberculosis who were initially admitted to a general hospital and were treated largely as outpatients by community physicians from July 1967 through December 1970. Ten patients died during hospitalization, and 253 were released to therapy as outpatients. Although smears or cultures of sputum remained positive at discharge in 136 (54 percent) of the 253 patients, no new infections were subsequently detected among their contacts. During initial therapy, 24 patients died of causes other than tuberculosis. Of the remaining 229 patients, the original 18-month treatment was successful in 197 (86 percent). The treatment failed initially in 11 patients, eight of whom represented relapses from previous therapy. During long-term follow-up of the 229 patients, there were only six relapses (3 percent) after the initial success. An overall rate of successful treatment of 92 percent (211/229) was achieved in the program, with 18 failures of treatment (8 percent); ie, 11 patients were lost to supervision, four died of tuberculosis, and in three, treatment was never successful.

Aged↗

Tuberculosis bacteriologic reliability. Sputum specimens submitted by mail.

The reliability of examining mailed specimens of sputum for tubercle bacilli was studied by dividing 132 sputum specimens. One half of each specimen was examined on the same day as collection (fresh); the other half was examined after a delay of from one to eight days (mailed). There were a few discrepancies, but no advantage was shown for use of the fresh portion of the specimens. The rate of contamination was slightly greater in the mailed portions (6.6%).

Culture Media↗