Microscopic examination and treatment outcomes of new pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Istanbul dispensaries between 1998 and 2000.
METHODS
Twenty-four public tuberculosis dispensaries in Istanbul.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate microscopic examination of new pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) cases and treatment outcomes of smear-positive cases.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 12572 new pulmonary tuberculosis cases between 1998 and 2000.


METHODS
Microscopic examination of sputum smears of all patients and treatment outcomes of smear-positive cases were evaluated.


RESULTS
Of 12572 new TB cases registered between 1998 and 2000, 78.1% (n = 9822) were pulmonary and 21.9% (n = 2750) were extra-pulmonary TB cases. Of 9822 new pulmonary TB cases, 5438 (55.4%) were sputum smear-positive and 2154 (21.9%) had no sputum examination. In smear-positive pulmonary cases, treatment outcomes were classified as follows: 2521 (46.4%) cured, 1926 (35.4%) treatment completed, 128 (2.4%) treatment failure, 514 (9.4%) default, 260 (4.8%) transfer out and 72 (1.3%) died. Treatment success was 81.8% (n = 4447). Between 1998 and 2000, the smear-positive case rate improved from 47.5% to 61.5% and the cure rate improved from 41.8% to 51.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
The microscopic diagnosis and cure rates are low in Istanbul dispensaries. The laboratories should be re-organised and directly observed treatment should be performed.
Kílícaslan
Z
Z
Chest Department, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. izakaslan@e-kolay.net
Oztürk
F
F
Sarimurat
N
N
Cuhadaroglu
C
C
Caglar
E
E
Erem
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014421:Turkey