1Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Sri Amritsar
2Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Sri Amritsar
3MD Chest and TB, District TB Officer, Amritsar
Sputum smear microscopy which is reliable, inexpensive, easily accessible and rapid method where in the bacilli is demonstrated in the sputum specimen of a patient suffering from PTB. Sputum conversion rate is a cardinal index of treatment success. The present study is an attempt to know about the sputum conversion rates at the end of IP and Extended IP and how they affect the treatment outcome in new smear positive patients under DOTS.
The study was conducted on new smear positive patients registered under DOTS in two Treatment Units (TUs) present in Amritsar city. Sputum conversion rates at the end of IP and Extended IP were calculated. Data management and analysis was done by using Microsoft excel and SPSS version 17.00.
Out of 250 patients, 149 (59.6%) were males and 101(40.4%) were females. 75.8% of the cases among males and 87.2% among females were in the age group of 15–45 years. Male preponderance, with male to female ratio of 1.5:1 was seen. Sputum conversion rates at the end of IP and Extended IP were 80.8% and 92% respectively.
On statistical analysis, it was observed that favourable outcome was significantly associated with sputum conversion at the end of IP (OR= 2.43, p = 0.032) and at the end of Extended IP (OR = 5.23, p = 0.007).
Tuberculosis, Sputum Conversion Rates, Treatment Outcome, DOTS
