title: Characteristics and outcome of tuberculosis patients whose sputum smears are positive at or after 5 months of treatment.
abstract: A country-wide survey was carried out to assess the management of new smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB) patients whose sputum smears were recorded as positive 5 months or later during treatment. During 2000 and 2001, there were 250 patients, of whom 161 (64%) had positive smears at 5 months and 89 at 7 months. Several inconsistencies and inadequacies in management were identified which need to be remedied: 7% of patients were assessed on one sputum specimen instead of two, and 17% on the basis of one positive smear result; 47% of patients with 5-month positive smears and 52% with 7-month positive smears had sputum smears examined too early or too late; 14% of patients with 5-month positive smears continued treatment, and over 60% of these were recorded as 'cured'.
authors.affiliation: National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Community Health Science Unit, Lilongwe, Malawi. adharries@malawi.net
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gausi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chimzizi
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salaniponi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D004977:Ethambutol; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin