BMC Research Notes (Jun 2018)

Second month sputum smear as a predictor of tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Brazil

  • Maria do Socorro Nantua Evangelista,
  • Rosalia Maia,
  • João Paulo Toledo,
  • Ricardo Gadelha de Abreu,
  • José Uereles Braga,
  • Draurio Barreira,
  • Anete Trajman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3522-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Abstract Objective The value of sputum smear microscopy (SSM) after 2 months of treatment in the management of pulmonary tuberculosis is controversial. We analysed second month-SSM conversion as a predictor of treatment success in Brazil. Results Overall successful outcome rate was 89.4%. The predictive value of second month-SSM conversion for successful outcomes was 85.2% 72,479/85,118), while the predictive value of non-conversion for unfavourable outcomes was 26.9% (2712/10,071). Unfavourable treatment outcomes were twice more likely among patients who did not convert (adjusted OR = 2.06; 1.97–2.16).

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