LAUSR

INTRODUCTION Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major public health problem with great regional disparities. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutics aspects of MDR-TB in Alsace, France. PATIENTS AND METHODS A 10 years retrospective study, conducted for the years 2006 to 2016, of all MDR-TB cases diagnosed in Alsace and particularly in Strasbourg University Hospitals. RESULTS We included 22 patients with MDR-TB of whom 90% originated from Eastern Europe, 13.6% had extensively-resistant strains, and 41% reported previously treated tuberculosis. Clinically, 86,4% had a pulmonary form of tuberculosis. The mean length of antibiotic treatment was 21 months with several changes of drugs because of severe side effects. The mean follow-up was 48 months, during which time 2 patients were lost from contact and the 20 remaining patients were cured. CONCLUSIONS Management of MDR-TB is a real social and medical challenge. Our study shows that the therapeutic protocols used in the management of these patients lead to an unusually high rate of success despite the occurrence of several, sometimes severe, side effects.