Efficacy of low-dose ofloxacin in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Indonesia

There is growing concern, even among developed countries, about the increasing incidence of tuberculosis that is resistant to both isoniazid and rifampicin. Results are reported herein from a study investigating ofloxacin in the treatment of 58 patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Patients received ofloxacin 400 mg/day accompanied by three other anti-TB drugs to which there was in vitro susceptibility. Treatment duration was nine months. Of 50 evaluable patients, our results showed that bacterial conversion as assessed by sputum microscopy occurred in 23 patients (46%) at three months of therapy, in 36 (72%) at six months, and in 39 (78%) at the end of nine months of therapy. Culture negativity was found in 36 patients (72%) at nine months of therapy. Relapses occurred in four of 36 patients (11%) who achieved culture negativity at the end of the treatment period. Ofloxacin 400 mg in combination with other active anti-TB medications shows promising results in the treatment of MDR-TB in Indonesian patients.