Title: Impact of BCG Vaccination Status on Sputum Conversion Rate in New Sputum Positive cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Priyam Goswami, Basanta Laskar, Jayanta Kumar Nath
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i8.40
Objectives: Sputum conversion rates (SCR) at the end of intensive phase of treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis varies and knowledge of factors involved is, inadequate. It has been reported that presence of a BCG scar was associated with greater rate of sputum conversion at the end of intensive phase (IP) of treatment. Hence, this study was undertaken with aim of studying the relationship between BCG vaccination status and sputum conversion rate in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients. Materials And Methods: This was a hospital based observational study done at Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh from July 2012 to June 2013. All new sputum smear positive (SSP-PTB) patients were put on antitubercular therapy under DOTS and followed up with repeat sputum microscopy at the end of intensive phase. A comparative study on the outcome was done between BCG scar positive and negative cases and statistical analysis done. Results: All the 102 new SSP-PTB cases successfully completed intensive phase treatment under DOTS. Out of these 19 patients had to be put on extended IP of 1 month. BCG scar was present in 64.17% cases and absent in 35.29%. Overall, 81.37% of new sputum positive (NSP) cases converted at the end of second month IP on DOTS. In BCG scar present group, sputum conversion rate (SCR) was 90.90% whereas in scar absent group it was 63.89%, showing a significant ‘p’ value of 0.0013.In the extended IP group 94.48% cases with scar converted, while 22.22% without BCG scar remained non-converted with a significant ‘p’ value of 0.0009. Conclusion: New SSP-PTB patients with evidence of previous BCG vaccination, show a significantly better sputum conversion rate at the end of intensive phase of DOTS. Keywords: Pulmonary tuberculosis, BCG vaccine, Sputum conversion rate.
Abstract
