16 1
Treatment
Table 5. Management of Treatment Interruptions
a
Time Point of
Interruption
Details of
Interruption Approach
During intensive phase Lapse is <14 d in
duration
Continue treatment to complete
planned total number of doses (as
long as all doses are completed
within 3 mo)
Lapse is ≥14 d in
duration
Restart treatment from the
beginning
During continuation
phase
Received ≥80% of doses
and sputum was AFB
smear negative on initial
testing
Further therapy may not be
necessary
Received ≥80% of doses
and sputum was AFB
smear positive on initial
testing
Continue therapy until all doses
are completed
Received <80% of doses
and accumulative lapse is
<3 mo in duration
Continue therapy until all doses
are completed (full course),
unless consecutive lapse is >2 mo
If treatment cannot be completed
within recommended time frame
for regimen, restart therapy
from the beginning (ie, restart
intensive phase, to be followed by
continuation phase)
b
Received <80% of doses
and lapse is ≥3 mo in
duration
Restart therapy from the
beginning, new intensive and
continuation phases (ie, restart
intensive phase, to be followed by
continuation phase)
a
According to expert opinion, patients who are lost to follow-up (on treatment) and brought back
to therapy, with interim treatment interruption, should have sputum resent for AFB smear, culture,
and drug susceptibility testing.
b
e recommended time frame for regimen, in tuberculosis control programs in the United States
and in several European countries, is to administer all of the specified number of doses for the
intensive phase within 3 months and those for the 4-month continuation phase within 6 months, so
that the 6-month regimen is completed within 9 months.
