title: Mortality in smear-negative tuberculosis patients in Phalombe.
abstract: In two hospitals in Malawi, where HIV prevalence among tuberculosis patients is 80-90%, the treatment outcome in patients registered with smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis was determined in relation to chest x-ray (CXR) findings and certain laboratory parameters. Of 70 patients who were registered and treated, 32 (46%) were known to have died. Mortality was particularly high in those with a normal / minimally abnormal CXR (62%) and in those with a white cell count of less than 3.5 × 109 /l (77%). The reasons for this high mortality among patients with smear-negative PTB are not known and requires more research.
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jcj
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calis
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.affiliation: Holy Family Mission Hospital, Phalombe, Malawi.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Elens
authors.affiliation: Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Association (KNCV), The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borgdorff
authors.affiliation: National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ministry of Health & Population, Lilongwe, Malawi.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries