Frequency of Post-Treatment Recurrence After Short-Course Regimens for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Objectives: Short-course regimens (SCRs) are increasingly used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), but data on post-treatment recurrence remain limited. We aimed to estimate the frequency of post-treatment recurrence after SCRs and compare recurrence between SCRs and comparator regimens.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies reporting treatment duration, post-treatment follow-up, and recurrent tuberculosis episodes after SCRs for DR-TB. The primary single-arm analysis used a binomial-normal random-effects generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) based on r/A, retaining zero-event cohorts without a continuity correction. Comparative analyses used pooled risk ratios (RRs) and person-time-adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs).