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Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 17, Number 5

Outcomes of children treated for tuberculosis with second-line medications in Georgia, 2009–2011

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BACKGROUND: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a major public threat in countries of the former Soviet Union, including Georgia. There are few studies of pediatric DR-TB cases, especially at a national level.

OBJECTIVE: To report the characteristics and treatment outcomes of pediatric multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases in Georgia.

METHODS: We extracted data on all pediatric (age <16 years) MDR-TB cases notified in Georgia from 2009 to 2011. We assessed the baseline and treatment characteristics and treatment outcomes of this cohort.

RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2011, there were 45 notified pediatric DR-TB cases in Georgia. Just over half had previously received anti-tuberculosis treatment and the median age was 7.7 years. Time from diagnosis to treatment was short (median 16 days), and the median length of treatment was 20.2 months. Of those not still on treatment, 77.1% (95%CI 61.0–87.9) had a successful outcome.

CONCLUSIONS: One of the first reports of pediatric DR-TB treatment outcomes at a national level, this study demonstrates that successful outcomes can be achieved.

Keywords: Georgia; children; multidrug-resistant TB; pediatrics

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: United States Agency for International Development Georgia TB Prevention Project, Tbilisi, Georgia 2: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 3: David Agmashenebeli University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia 4: TB Research Unit, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Publication date: 01 May 2013

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  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

    The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.

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