Treatment outcome of tuberculosis in a rural area of Japan

• Published in: Journal of global antimicrobial resistance. 2024-12, Vol.39, p.57-57
• Main Authors: Tateno, Ayaka, Wannigama, Dhammika Leshan, Abe, Shuichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Japan; latent TB infection; rural area; TB patients; Treatment outcome; tuberculosis
• ISSN: 2213-7165
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2024.10.182

Yamagata Prefecture, a rural area in Japan, has one of the lowest rates of tuberculosis (TB) in the country. However, delayed diagnosis and poor general health conditions have led to fatalities among TB patients. This study aims to review the treatment outcomes of TB patients diagnosed at our hospital. A retrospective review was conducted on 87 TB patients reported to the Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan, between April 2015 and July 2024. Data were extracted from electronic medical records to analyze treatment protocols and outcomes. The study included 87 patients with a mean age of 65.5 years (range: 14-93), comprising 35 women and 52 men. From the total, 13 cases were treated as latent TB infection (LTBI), and 14 cases initiated treatment at other hospitals. Excluding these, 60 patients were analyzed: 3 discontinued treatment, 4 were transferred to other hospitals, and 2 are currently undergoing treatment. Among the 33 patients who started standard treatment (isoniazid [INH], rifampicin [RFP], ethambutol [EB], and pyrazinamide [PZA] or INH+RFP+EB), 14 required medication changes due to adverse effects, and 4 were unable to commence standard treatment due to their poor general condition. Delayed diagnosis of TB can lead to disease progression and preclude the initiation of standard treatment due to deteriorating general health, particularly in elderly patients. In an aging society with declining TB incidence, it is crucial to maintain a high index of suspicion based on physical and imaging findings and to commence treatment promptly.