Lung India (Jan 2008)

A study of sputum conversion in new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases at the monthly intervals of 1<sup> st</sup> , <sup> 2nd </sup> &#x0026; 3<sup> rd </sup> month under directly observed treatment, short course (dots) regimen

  • Bawri S,
  • Ali S,
  • Phukan C,
  • Tayal B,
  • Baruwa P

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 3
pp. 118 – 123

Abstract

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Aims and Objectives : To determine sputum conversion rate at monthly intervals of 1st, 2nd and 3rd month in new smear positive cases (cat-1) under treatment under RNTCP. Material and Methods : The study was conducted at DOTS Center, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital; Guwahati between July 2005 to June 2006.The study is a prospec-tive study and consists of 100 cases of new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases (category 1) irrespective of age and sex. Results and Observations : The age & sex distribution of 100 patients showed that majority of the patients (74%) belonged to 2nd, 3rd and 4th decades & 75% were males and 25% were female with male to female ratio 3:1 respectively. The chest x-ray of 100 Smear Positive patients shows that only 60 (60%) patients had x-ray evidence of pulmonary Koch. In the present study, sputum conversion i.e. from smear positive to smear negative at the end of the 1st month is 71%, at the end of 2nd month is 84% and at the end of 3rd month is 92%. Summary & Conclusion : In conclusion, the overall sputum conversion rate under Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course (DOTS) chemotherapy in 100 sputum smear positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis in DOTS centre, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital was 92%.The chest x-ray evidence of pulmonary Koch in 100 patients is 60%.The sputum conversion at the end of 1st month is 71%, at the end of 2nd month it is 84% and at the end of 3rd month the same is 92%. In the present study, the infectivity decreases from the baseline with significant P value for sputum conversion of 3+, 2+ and 1+ sputum positivity. Directly Observed Treatment is an effective intervention for improving adherence to tuberculosis treatment programme in a resource-poor country. A significant decrease in conversion rate was observed with the initial high grade smear positive cases.

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