Indagine nazionale sulla chemioterapia della tubercolosi polmonare di primo accertamento

In 1994 a questionnaire, sent to respiratory and anti tuberculous units in Italy, demonstred that Italian Chest Physicians treated, normal non- complicated pulmonary tuberculosis with an out-of date regimen. A total of 182 answers were collected, from 62 different areas of the Country. The treatment was performed with 3 drugs by 51% of interviewed, with 4 drugs by the 31.9%, while a regimen with more than 4 drugs was reported by 17% of centres. Drugs were used with a fixed regimen in 70.6% of cases. As for the drugs used, Isoniazid and Rifampin were reported by almost all, Ethambutol by 84.6%, while Streptomycin (40.7%) was used more than Pyrazinamide (30.8%). Only the mean daily dose of Pyrazinamide was lower than normal. Moreover, in many cases, either too many drugs are used or for too long. The therapeutic regimen suggested by OMS and ATS and the 'short therapy' were rarely performed. After this study the Italian Chest Physicians Association 'ALPO) organized Consensus Conferences and published guidelines for tuberculosis treatment and began national trials for monitoring of tuberculosis epidemiology and treatment. The last results of these trials for monitoring of tuberculosis epidemiology and treatment. The last results of these trials indicate that about the 80% of Italian Chest Physicians use the OMS suggested therapeutic regimen.