title: Tuberculosis 'retreatment others': profile and treatment outcomes in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.
abstract: METHODS
  The Government of India's Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), Andhra Pradesh, South India.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the basic characteristics and treatment outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) patients classified as 'retreatment others' and compare their treatment outcomes with smear-positive retreatment TB cases (relapse, failure, and treatment after default [TAD]).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective record and report review of a patient cohort (n = 1237) registered as 'retreatment others' under the RNTCP from July to September 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1009 patient records of 'retreatment others' reviewed, 674 (67%) were males, 892 (88%) were aged 15-64 years, 847 (84%) were pulmonary sputum smear-negative, 843 (84%) had unknown human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and 55 (5.5%) were HIV-positive. All patients were treated with the RNTCP intermittent (thrice weekly) retreatment regimen. Eighty per cent were successfully treated (cured plus treatment completed). Successful outcomes were higher in females (84%), in patients with extra-pulmonary TB (87%) and in HIV-negative patients (87%). The treatment outcomes were significantly better for 'retreatment others' (P < 0.05) than among the sputum smear-positive retreatment cases (78% for relapses, 59% for failures and 73% for TAD).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  'Retreatment others' were predominantly sputum smear-negative TB, with significantly better treatment outcomes than among smear-positive retreatment patients. Future studies may assess the accuracy of the diagnoses and factors contributing to the occurrence of 'retreatment others'.
authors.affiliation: Center for Operations Research, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France. ssrinath@theunion.org
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srinath
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharath
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Santosha
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chadha
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roopa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chander
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wares
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018563:Disease Notification; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009313:National Health Programs; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents