Abstract

Tuberculosis [TB] has been a major cause of suffering and death since times immemorial. Thought to be one of the oldest human diseases, the history of TB is at least as old as the mankind. Since, the discovery of mycobacterium tuberculosis microscopic detection of the bacilli in clinical specimens has remained the mainstay of tuberculosis [TB] diagnosis in developing nations. This was a retrospective study, in which a total of 336 patients who were initiated on ATT on sputum AFB positive basis from Department of TB and Chest diseases, Government Medical College, Patiala from November 2009 to May 2010. The objective of this study was to find the treatment outcome in sputum AFB positive patients put on category I, II and III regimen of ATT under RNTCP & to find the sputum conversion rate after 2 months in patients of pulmonary koch’s put on category I, II and III regimen of ATT. These patients were followed up till end of their treatment and sputum for AFB was done at time of diagnosis, at the end of intensive phase of treatment and at the end of the treatment.Sputum AFB positive patients initiated on ATT were included in this study, while clinically diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients and sputum AFB negative but Culture or CBNAAT positive patients were excluded. Our study showed low conversion rate and cure rates in both category I and category II patients. This may be due to the fact that patient may be having poor compliance but may also be due to lower efficacy of the alternate day regimen. More studies need to be done to evaluate the treatment outcome of DOTS in patients of sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis. We also believe that proper patient follow up and education is needed to increase compliance to the anti tubercular drugs.

Keywords: Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Tertiary care centre, Treatment outcome, Sputum for AFB, Conversion rate.