[The effectivness of direct observed treatment short course (DOTS) in tuberculosis treatment].

UNLABELLED In 1994 the National Tuberculosis (TB) Programme of our country adopted direct observed treatment short course (DOTS) as National TB control strategy. After that DOTS has been implemented in different parts of country. OBJECTIVE to define the effectiveness of DOTS strategy implementation in Sarajevo Canton. PATIENTS AND METHODS Medical histories and treatment cards of TB smear patients admitted in the University Clinic Sarajevo during 1998 and 1999, as well as Referral Microbiological Laboratory Registers of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina were used for the analysis. The control group consisted of patients treated in the area which covers present Sarajevo Canton in the period when DOTS strategy was not used. RESULTS In 1998 there were 83.6 % new TB cases and 89.5 % in 1999. The smear sputum conversion rate was 89.5 % in 1998 and 93 % in 1999. Smear sputum conversion rates were achieved in the period of 30-45 days after antituberculous treatment onset in 50.0 % patients in 1998 and in 51.7 % in 1999. Chest X-ray partial regression in the initial phase (at the end of second month of treatment) was achieved in the examined groups in higher percentages (70.1 % in 1998 and 77.9 % in 1999.) compared with the control group (44.29 %). It was evident that partial radiographic regression was achieved up to 45 days after treatment onset in the examined group in 42.6 % cases in 1998 and in 61.2 % in 1999. In this period in the control group partial radiographic regression was not achieved at all. Total chest X-ray regression was achieved neither in examined groups nor in control group. CONCLUSION These data are the results of successfulness of the DOTS treatment.