Abstract

Thorax 1990;45:403-408 Guidelines Chemotherapy and management of tuberculosis in the Kingdom: recommendations of the United Joint Tuberculosis Committee of the British Thoracic Society P of the Joint Tuberculosis Committee L Ormerod for a subcommittee The number of notified cases of tuberculosis isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for in Britain has fallen over the last 10 years but the initial two months, followed by rifampicin the disease still causes appreciable morbidity and isoniazid for a further four months, is and 2 There have been major chan- mortality.' recommended standard treatment for adult ges in the staffing of thoracic medicine over pulmonary tuberculosis irrespective of the the same since the retirement of many period There is bacteriological state of the sputum. physicians with long experience of tuber- evidence that the fourth drug (ethambutol) culosis. The treatment of tuberculosis can be omitted in patients with a low risk of depends not only on the correct prescription '° This applies to resistance to isoniazid.9 of effective regimens but also chemotherapy previously untreated patients in Britain. on the patient's compliance with treatment. Several studies have shown that when treat- NON-PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS ment is not supervised by thoracic physicians Although there have been relatively few con-