The operation of a tuberculosis treatment program in an open refugee camp of 45,000 refugees on the Thai-Cambodian border is described. Fifty-eight patients received 6 months of supervised daily outpatient therapy with a protocol employing isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, and pyrazinamide. Patient compliance was high, with only 15 of 10,209 patient days being missed, despite a high incidence of minor side effects. Three patients died, 4 defaulted, and 1 moved to another camp for treatment. The therapies of 4 patients were extended because of the need for reduced doses of medications, the development of extrapulmonary disease, treatment failure, and slow resolution of infiltrates on radiographs. There was 1 late relapse. This report demonstrates the feasibility of integrating short-course therapies with program designs to produce high compliance under difficult field conditions.

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Cambodia Thailand human Refugees priority journal Time Factors geographic distribution outpatient Adolescent Antitubercular Agents Rifampin male Tuberculosis, Pulmonary female tuberculosis Ambulatory Care Facilities therapy Drug Therapy, Combination streptomycin patient compliance Support, Non-U.S. Gov't adult isoniazid nervous system rifampicin pyrazinamide Middle Age Child