Programmatic treatment outcomes in HIV-infected and uninfected drug-resistant TB patients in Khayelitsha, South Africa

South Africa has high burdens of HIV, TB and drug-resistant TB (DR-TB, rifampicin-resistance). Treatment outcome data for HIV-infected versus uninfected patients is limited. We assessed the impact of HIV and other factors on DR-TB treatment success, time to culture conversion, loss-from-treatment and overall mortality after second-line treatment initiation. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted for patients initiated on DR-TB treatment from 2008 to 2012, within a community-based, decentralised programme in Khayelitsha, South Africa. Among 853 confirmed DR-TB patients initiating second-line treatment, 605 (70.9%) were HIV infected. HIV status did not impact on time to sputum culture conversion nor did it impact treatment success; 48.1% (259/539) and 45.9% (100/218), respectively (p=0.59). In a multivariate model, HIV was not associated with treatment success. Death during treatment was higher among HIV-infected patients, but overall mortality was not significantly higher. HIV-infected patients with CD4 100 cells/ml were significantly more likely to die after starting treatment. Response to DR-TB treatment did not differ with HIV infection in a programmatic setting with access to antiretroviral treatment (ART). Earlier ART initiation at a primary care level could reduce mortality among HI infected patients presenting with low CD4 counts.