In the Russia Federation, the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases has nearly tripled, increasing from 45,000 cases in 1991 to 124,000 in 1999. Multidrug resistant strains have also been shown to have increased dramatically in several regions. Russia has recently adopted the World Health Organization's (WHO) worldwide strategy of DOTS, or Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course to control tuberculosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO, and U.S. Agency for International Development are helping implement basic DOTS programs in the Orel and Vladimir oblasts (regions) and strengthen the DOTS program started in 1995 by WHO in Ivanovo oblast. CDC researchers evaluated the treatment outcomes of 310 civilian and 39 incarcerated TB patients in the first six months after introducing a DOTS program to the Orel oblast. Treatment success -- defined as a patient who completed treatment or who's cure can be documented using bacteriological tests -- was achieved in 88 percent of the new civilian TB cases and 60 percent of the civilian patients being re-treated for the disease. Of the incarcerated patients, 97 percent completed treatment. As a whole, the treatment success rate was higher in Orel than in other parts of Russia, where the DOTS strategy has been effectively implemented. CDC suggests that this success may be due to the dedication of TB control staff to ensure patients complete treatment, lower rates of multi-drug resistant TB, and the possibility that patients are seeking treatment sooner rather than later. CDC scientists also reported on an evaluation of the Ivanovo TB control project, established five years ago. CDC found that 28 percent of highly infectious patients interrupted their six-month course of anti-TB drugs. Non-adherence to TB treatment may lead to the development of multi-drug resistant TB strains and to the spread of TB.

Other CDC News for March 23, 2001

Mortality, CD4 Cell Count Decline, and Depressive Symptoms Among HIV-Seropositive Women U.S. Drug Buyers Unlikely to Seek Deep Discounts on AIDS Medicines Congress Looks to Step Up Fight Against AIDS and Other Diseases Overseas TB Cases Increase Despite Cheap Medication: WHO	AIDS Panic in China Leads to Draconian Measures Health Tips: Physicians Should Screen for Chlamydia Disney: No Risk to Visitors From Employee With TB Tuberculosis Treatment Interruption -- Ivanovo Oblast, Russia Federation, 1999 and Evaluation of a Directly Observed Therapy Short Course Strategy for TB Disease -- Orel Oblast, Russia, Russian Federation, 1999-2000
World TB Day -- March 24, 2001