title: Sputum microscopy results at two and three months predict outcome of tuberculosis treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the importance of monitoring sputum conversion as an early treatment indicator of treatment success.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of sputum conversion in a cohort of 'cured' tuberculosis patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 65 (95%) patients whose sputum converted in the third month of treatment, 62 were cured; only 21 of 35 (60%) patients whose sputum was still positive at the end of three months of treatment were ultimately cured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sputum conversion during the third month of treatment is an important predictor of treatment success; failure to convert predicts treatment failure.
authors.affiliation: Tuberculosis Control Project Office, Ministry of Health, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: F Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents